What is the Latin word for threadbare?

The usual Latin words for “threadbare” are terō, obsolētus, atterō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“threadbare” in Latin

terōto rub or triturate; to wear away or wear out, consume; to tread obsolētusold, worn out, thrown off; obsolete, out-of-date; common, ordinary, mean, low atterōto wear away, rub away; to grind; to chafe

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

threadbare

tritus: obsoletus (the latter of clothes or the wearer): attritus (e.g., toga attrita, Mart.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for threadbare?: The usual Latin words for “threadbare” are terō, obsolētus, atterō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.