adj.
Pronunciation: ' thred- ˌ ber
Function: adjective
Date: 14th century
1 a : having the nap worn off so that the thread shows : SHABBY < threadbare clothes> b : wearing threadbare clothing : very poor <took in threadbare relatives ― Russell Baker> c : barely adequate because of cheapness or shabbiness <a threadbare production>
2 : exhausted of interest or freshness
synonyms see TRITE
– thread · bare · ness noun