Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective No longer acceptable, usable, or practical.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb Past participle of outwear
  • adjective no longer usable
  • adjective worn out
  • adjective out of date

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word outworn.

Examples

  • But empire demands discipline, the coordination of all forces and a deeply felt sense of duty and sacrifice: this fact explains many aspects of the practical working of the regime, the character of many forces in the State, and the necessarily severe measures which must be taken against those who would oppose this spontaneous and inevitable movement of Italy in the twentieth century, and would oppose it by recalling the outworn ideology of the nineteenth century – repudiated wheresoever there has been the courage to undertake great experiments of social and political transformation; for never before has the nation stood more in need of authority, of direction and order.

    Think Progress » Passing Health Reform Would Contribute To Obama’s Deficit Reduction Goals 2010

  • But empire demands discipline, the coordination of all forces and a deeply felt sense of duty and sacrifice: this fact explains many aspects of the practical working of the regime, the character of many forces in the State, and the necessarily severe measures which must be taken against those who would oppose this spontaneous and inevitable movement of Italy in the twentieth century, and would oppose it by recalling the outworn ideology of the nineteenth century – repudiated wheresoever there has been the courage to undertake great experiments of social and political transformation; for never before has the nation stood more in need of authority, of direction and order.

    Think Progress » Wall Street Republicans Form ‘Action Tank’ To Push Corporate Agenda 2010

  • But empire demands discipline, the coordination of all forces and a deeply felt sense of duty and sacrifice: this fact explains many aspects of the practical working of the regime, the character of many forces in the State, and the necessarily severe measures which must be taken against those who would oppose this spontaneous and inevitable movement of Italy in the twentieth century, and would oppose it by recalling the outworn ideology of the nineteenth century – repudiated wheresoever there has been the courage to undertake great experiments of social and political transformation; for never before has the nation stood more in need of authority, of direction and order.

    Coalition of the Willing, to Power « raincoaster 2006

  • For them, the slogans of antifascism were not "outworn" — indeed, they had, perhaps, even more emotional resonance when the fascist menace seemed to have infected their America and to threaten them personally.

    Caught in the Crossfire: Adrian Scott and the Politics of Americanism in 1940s Hollywood 2007

  • An objection is not "outworn" until answered, and to speak of the demise of a generally accepted theory is hardly scientific.

    The Evolution of Man Scientifically Disproved In 50 Arguments

  • Davis might aid such a move as a consideration for recognition, and certainly Seward was too busy with his own troubles to intervene on behalf of an "outworn" Monroe Doctrine.

    Expansion and Conflict William E. Dodd

  • Do not be misled - Populism is not some kind of outworn relic of an agrarian past, an aberrant philosophy of the unwashed, bitter and resentful.

    Financial Sector and Stocks Analysis from Seeking Alpha 2010

  • Do not be misled - Populism is not some kind of outworn relic of an agrarian past, an aberrant philosophy of the unwashed, bitter and resentful.

    SeekingAlpha.com: Home Page 2010

  • Any obstinate clinging to outworn doctrines, whether of religion or politics or morality or of science, are equally damning and equally damnable.

    Dana Ullman: Disinformation on Homeopathy: Two Leading Sources Dana Ullman 2011

  • "The discovery of reality will continue only if we abandon outworn forms," Robbe Grillet writes.

    Translated Texts 2010

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.