thinly worn

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thinly worn" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been used or worn down to a minimal extent, often referring to clothing or materials that show signs of wear but are still functional. Example: "The jacket was thinly worn, with only a few frayed edges, but it still kept him warm on chilly days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

And in this weather, too, with the wind on the M40 threatening my thinly worn good nature.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The outward-facing Thinly Worn masks another installation that addresses the roots of Estabrook's identity struggles.

Vice

Both Thinly Worn and Hometown Hero (Chink) are an attempt to normalize Estabrook's unique cultural journey.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Remember the thinly veiled mask of fakeness worn by someone who tried to be popular?

Huffington Post

The young women with ambiguous smiles whose nudity is thinly concealed, or not, occasionally wear hats with expensive trimmings provocatively tilted.

The New York Times - Arts

In the last 48 hours, Mr. Biden wore his growing frustration on his sleeve, offering a thinly veiled warning to Mrs. Clinton that Democrats would be "making a tragic mistake if we walk away or attempt to undo the Obama legacy".

The New York Times

He noted that the men wore bamboo headpieces that looked like crowns, with strips of thinly cut bamboo around their waists.

The New York Times

A woman wearing a blue head scarf who said she was from Guyana picked up four bitter melons; when thinly sliced, she said, they go very well with a shrimp and rice stir-fry.

The New York Times

Micro-scale abrasive wear testing is widely used to characterise thinly coated surfaces.

Surface and Coatings Technology

SKIN: Wear as pale a foundation as you can get away with, and spread it thinly and evenly over your face.

WikiHow

Kryuchkov smiled thinly.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing clothing or materials, use "thinly worn" to convey a subtle indication of use without suggesting significant damage. For example, "The coat was thinly worn, suggesting it was well-cared for."

Common error

Avoid using "thinly worn" when the item is actually heavily damaged or significantly aged. This phrase implies a light level of wear, not extensive deterioration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thinly worn" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun by specifying the degree to which it has been worn or used. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically sound and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "thinly worn" is used to describe items showing minimal signs of use or wear, implying that they are still in relatively good condition. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, although its frequency is rare. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts. When using "thinly worn", ensure that the item genuinely exhibits light wear rather than significant damage. Alternatives like "slightly used" or "lightly worn" can provide similar nuances depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly used

Indicates minimal usage or wear, similar to "thinly worn", focusing on the degree of use.

lightly used

Emphasizes the gentle nature of the use, implying minimal wear and tear.

scarcely used

Highlights the infrequency of use, suggesting that the item is nearly new.

hardly used

Similar to 'scarcely used', stressing the lack of significant wear due to infrequent use.

gently worn

Focuses on the careful manner in which the item was used, implying minimal damage.

barely touched

Implies that the item is in almost pristine condition, with very little wear.

almost new

Directly states that the item is close to its original condition.

slightly damaged

Shifts the focus to the minimal damage sustained, rather than the degree of wear.

lightly damaged

Emphasizes the minimal extent of the damage.

showing minimal wear

A more descriptive alternative that explicitly states the limited signs of usage.

FAQs

How can I use "thinly worn" in a sentence?

You can use "thinly worn" to describe items that show slight signs of use but are not significantly damaged. For example, "The book's cover was "thinly worn", but the pages inside were pristine."

What's a good alternative to "thinly worn"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "slightly used", "lightly worn", or "scarcely used".

Is "thinly worn" grammatically correct?

Yes, "thinly worn" is grammatically correct and functions as an adjective phrase describing the condition of an object.

When should I avoid using "thinly worn"?

Avoid using "thinly worn" if the item has significant damage or wear. It's more appropriate for items that have been used gently and show only minimal signs of wear.