shopworn

adjective

shop·​worn ˈshäp-ˌwȯrn How to pronounce shopworn (audio)
1
: faded, soiled, or otherwise impaired by remaining too long in a store
2
: stale from excessive use or familiarity
shopworn clichés
3
: worn-out
a shopworn veteran

Examples of shopworn in a Sentence

the shopworn suggestion to job applicants to “just be yourself”
Recent Examples on the Web So much of his work seems dull, shopworn, generic. James Marcus, The New Yorker, 1 June 2020 Carson said — 50 times Carson’s office, on a quiet street in downtown Modesto, was gritty and shopworn and functional in feel. Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2021 If your listing has become shopworn, look at reducing the price or offering incentives. John Nugent, Houston Chronicle, 4 July 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shopworn.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shopworn was in 1838

Dictionary Entries Near shopworn

Cite this Entry

“Shopworn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shopworn. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shopworn

adjective
shop·​worn -ˌwō(ə)rn How to pronounce shopworn (audio)
-ˌwȯ(ə)rn
1
: faded or soiled from being too long in a store
2
: stale from too much use of familiarity
shopworn suggestions
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