well weathered

USAGE SUMMARY

"well weathered" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a person or thing that has withstood and endured difficult times or circumstances. For example: "After many years of hard work, Paul's spirit was still strong - he was a well weathered man."

✓ Grammatically correct

Environmental Sciences Europe

The New York Times

Stanford University

Huffington Post

The New York Times - Magazine

The New York Times - Sports

The New Yorker

The New York Times

The New York Times

Forbes

Los Angeles Times

Huffington Post

Forbes

The Economist

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Guardian

Earth, Planets and Space

Los Angeles Times

Wikipedia

The Guardian

The Guardian

Science Magazine

Science Magazine

The New York Times - Tech

The New York Times

The Economist

The New York Times

The Economist

The New York Times

The Guardian

The Economist

Forbes

Forbes

Huffington Post

The Economist

The Guardian

The Guardian

Measurement

The New York Times

The New York Times - Travel

The New York Times - Sports

The New York Times

Forbes

BBC

BBC

Earth, Planets and Space

TechCrunch

BBC

BBC

Los Angeles Times

Huffington Post

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The soil developed on glacial till and can be characterised as well weathered, slightly acidic brown earth.

Environmental Sciences Europe

Dave DeHart, a sophomore, who swims the individual medley, added: "And authoritative -- and, well, weathered.

The New York Times - Sports

As weaker minerals weather and erode relatively quicker than quartz, you are left with quartz as a predominant mineral in well weathered sediment systems (i.e. beaches) far from sediment source (i.e. mountains).

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

They should be simple, natural, low-maintenance and well weathering.

The New York Times

Although the Southern Hemisphere moved out of the Ice Age with the Northern Hemisphere, its climate since then has not tracked well weather patterns north of the equator.

Stanford University

I might as well weather the storm of uncertainty and take the leap to do what I love.

Huffington Post

Many were production wells — weathered pump jacks pulling up oil (or natural gas and natural-gas liquids) from holes drilled over the years.

The New York Times - Magazine

Back home in my day, we would say, "Well, weather," and just keep on at the weather.

The New Yorker

Over time it has weathered the test of, well, weather: Constant fog, treacherous gusts and seismic movements have kept engineers busy maintaining the vermilion steel structure.

The New York Times

"I thought, well, we weathered the storm and we're O.K. Then they came in with this".

The New York Times

Are you two impressed with how well REITs weathered the downturn?

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "well weathered" to describe materials, objects, or individuals that have matured or improved through exposure to various conditions or challenges. This implies a positive transformation due to endurance.

Common error

Avoid using "well weathered" to simply mean old or worn-out. The phrase implies a positive quality gained through enduring hardship or exposure, not just deterioration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "well weathered" primarily functions as a compound adjective modifying a noun. It describes the state of something or someone that has been significantly affected by exposure to the elements or life's challenges, often implying a positive attribute of resilience or enhanced character. Examples from Ludwig show its use in describing both physical objects and personal qualities.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "well weathered" functions as an adjective, typically used to describe something that has endured and often improved through exposure to the elements or life's challenges. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, noting that it's used to describe objects, materials, or individuals. It carries a neutral tone and a connotation of resilience or enhanced character. Common contexts include news, science, and formal business writing. While not as common as some other phrases, understanding its proper usage can add depth to your writing by conveying a sense of endurance and positive transformation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weather-beaten

Focuses on the physical marks and changes caused by exposure to the elements.

time-tested

Emphasizes the ability to endure and remain effective over a long period.

battle-hardened

Implies strength gained through difficult experiences, focusing on resilience achieved through conflict.

hardened by experience

Highlights the toughening effect of facing challenging situations.

seasoned veteran

Highlights extensive experience and expertise, often in a particular field.

resilient

Focuses on the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.

steeled by adversity

Suggests a strengthening effect resulting from overcoming challenges.

toughened up

Implies a process of becoming stronger and more resistant to hardship.

experienced

A general term for having gained knowledge or skill through practice and observation.

long-lasting

Emphasizes the ability to endure and remain effective over a long period.

FAQs

How can I use "well weathered" in a sentence?

You can use "well weathered" to describe something that has aged gracefully or become stronger due to exposure, such as "The old barn was "well weathered", showing its resilience to the elements".

What is a good alternative to "well weathered"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "well weathered" could include "time-tested", "weather-beaten", or "seasoned veteran".

Is it correct to say "well weathered" when describing a negative outcome?

While "well weathered" generally implies a positive outcome of enduring hardship, using it in a negative context could create an interesting contrast, but it's essential to ensure the meaning remains clear. More often, the positive connotation is safer and clearer.

What's the difference between "well weathered" and "weather-worn"?

"Well weathered" emphasizes a positive transformation through exposure, while "weather-worn" simply describes the effects of weather, without necessarily implying improvement or resilience.