1 shopworn | Definition of shopworn

shopworn

adjective
shop·​worn | \ ˈshĂ€p-ˌwÈŻrn How to pronounce shopworn (audio) \

Definition of shopworn

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

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Examples of shopworn in a Sentence

the shopworn suggestion to job applicants to “just be yourself”

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite the cheekiness of the staging, Hamida’s path to enlightenment feels a bit shopworn. Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, "Review: Swashbuckling world premiere ‘House of Joy’ hits and misses at Cal Shakes," 19 Aug. 2019 The idea that his shopworn knees disadvantage him on a court with low bounces? Jon Wertheim, SI.com, "Five Thoughts From Day Two at Wimbledon," 3 July 2018 Open your eyes to more than your shopworn ideology. Andrew Sullivan, Daily Intelligencer, "Anthony Kennedy and the Death of True American Conservatism," 29 June 2018 But his legacy is honored every day at the dim, shopworn bar. J.k. Dineen, San Francisco Chronicle, "North Beach bar and gathering spot Specs marks 50th anniversary with grand party," 30 Apr. 2018 But in all that success the Kia brand has become a bit shopworn, typecast as down-market and generic. Dan Neil, WSJ, "2018 Kia Stinger GT2: The Best German Car to Come Out of South Korea," 6 Apr. 2018 Jackpot Airlines is about a half step above a commuter airline, and its crew members are either shopworn or under-motivated. David Wiegand, San Francisco Chronicle, "Fox comedy is up in the air — maybe in a good way," 29 Dec. 2017 Your undergraduate writing professor’s most shopworn advice is applicable here: Show, don’t tell. Cleo Levin, Slate Magazine, "Save the Stiletto Emoji," 24 Oct. 2017 Establishment Republicans seem to believe Trump’s rise says more about the inadequacies of their voters than about the inadequacies of their own, shopworn politics. Rich Lowry, National Review, "Trump Is the GOP Mainstream," 27 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shopworn.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of shopworn

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for shopworn

shopworn

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of shopworn

US
: faded or damaged from being in a shop or store for too long
: not interesting because of being used too often

More from Merriam-Webster on shopworn

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with shopworn

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shopworn