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Definition of "moth-eaten" [moth•-eat•en]

  • Eaten away by moth larvae. (adjective)
  • Old and timeworn: a moth-eaten phrase. (adjective)
  • Shabby; decrepit. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "moth-eaten" in a sentence
  • "A moth-eaten old vagrant called The Pirate, who lives in a shack with his many dogs, promises St. Francis a golden candlestick in exchange for saving a sick pup."
  • "A moth-eaten cap perched atop his wispy, balding head."
  • "There was no one else to keep her from running completely amok, no one besides me who could stop her from packing the porch with “antiques,” from allowing the closets to overflow with moth-eaten sweaters and the backyard to go wild."
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