tatty
Showing much wear
Tatty means worn, shabby, or in poor condition: a tatty old cardigan, tatty furniture.
More common in British than American English.
The word suggests something that has seen better days—not ruined, but visibly deteriorated through age or neglect.
A tatty neighborhood looks rundown; tatty decorations seem cheap or faded.
Worn until transparent
- shabbyWorn and neglected
- frayedUnraveled at edges
- worn-outDepleted through overuse
- raggedWorn to shreds
dilapidated · scruffy · moth-eaten · battered · decrepit · weathered · timeworn · patched
Low in cost
- flimsyWeak and easily damaged
- shoddyOf poor craftsmanship
- low-qualitySubstandard in nature
- cheapoInferior slang term
tacky · trashy · gimcrack · chintzy · tawdry · kitschy · junky · bargain-basement
Untidy in appearance
- slovenlyUntidy and careless
- bedraggledWet, dirty, untidy
- untidyLacking neatness or order
- messyLacking order or neatness
scruffy · rumpled · sloppy · neglected · uncared-for · down-at-heel · raggedy · scraggly
threadbare
Worn until transparent
ragged · dilapidated · scruffy · moth-eaten · battered · decrepit · weathered · timeworn · patched · holey
inexpensive
Low in cost
- flimsyWeak and easily damaged
- shoddyOf poor craftsmanship
- low-qualitySubstandard in nature
cheapo · tacky · trashy · gimcrack · chintzy · tawdry · kitschy · junky · bargain-basement · cut-rate
disheveled
Untidy in appearance
- slovenlyUntidy and careless
- bedraggledWet, dirty, untidy
- untidyLacking neatness or order
messy · scruffy · rumpled · sloppy · neglected · uncared-for · down-at-heel · raggedy · scraggly
discolored
Changed from original hue
- sun-bleachedLightened by prolonged daylight
- washed-outLacking original vibrancy
- paleLacking color intensity
dull · bleached · faint · dim · yellowed · stained · mottled · tarnished · grimy · dingy
- Britishismsbloke, blimey, bloody, cheers, loo
- worn-outworn, shabby, threadbare, battered, ragged
- conditionsmedical condition, weather conditions, environmental conditions, living conditions, working conditions
- inferiorinferior, substandard, second-rate, second-class, subpar
tattypristine
Pure and untouched
immaculate · brand-new · new · well-maintained · mint
- tit for tatEquivalent retaliation
tattered, tatter, tat, tattering, tattie, tattier, tattiest, tattiness