flea-bitten

Examples

• All

• Their hides were both glossy and dusty, Tabenaro pied, Navarro a flea-bitten iron grey.

  Fiction book (1998)

• Get that flea-bitten thing out of here!

  In Old Chicago (1938)

• We're saved because that flea-bitten nag showed up?

  Dudley Do-Right (1999)

• In all truth, she had no idea if they were good, bad, or flea-bitten, so she kept her mouth shut and just gave the man a nod and a smile instead.

  Fiction book (1995)

• Why, in Mithros's name, should I care in the least about the tender feelings of a pack of mangy, flea-bitten curs?

  Fiction book (1994)

• At her heels were wicked spurs with which she was ferociously prodding the flanks of the most dejected-looking, flea-bitten nag she had ever beheld.

  Fiction book (1990)

• The old sofa was so flea-bitten that it hardly resembled its former self.

• After years of use, the flea-bitten carpet was threadbare and covered in stains.

• Her flea-bitten jacket looked as if it had been through many harsh winters.

Synonyms

M

mangy

vsflea-bitten

• Offensive

28 6.5

Worn and dirty, in bad condition

focuses on shabby from age or neglect without implying disease

S

scruffy

vsflea-bitten

23 3.8

Messy and untidy in clothes or appearance

stresses shabby appearance rather than long-term neglect or age

R

ratty

vsflea-bitten

• Informal

19 5.4

Looking worn and dirty from use

is informal and stresses general shabby condition from neglect

G

grubby

vsflea-bitten

17 1.4

Dirty and needing to be cleaned

is about shabby from age or neglect, not only surface dirt

R

run-down

vsflea-bitten

15 4.5

A building or place that is in poor condition because people do not look after it

is informal and stresses shabby look rather than formal description

D

derelict

vsflea-bitten

14 7.5

A place or building that is abandoned and in very bad condition from lack of use

is not necessarily abandoned, only shabby from age or neglect

R

raggedy

vsflea-bitten

• Informal

12 4.0

Something that looks worn, torn, and messy

is informal and highlights rough torn appearance rather than general shabbiness

D

decrepit

vsflea-bitten

9 6.6

A building or vehicle that is very old and in poor condition from lack of care

is informal and means shabby rather than emphasizing ruin

B

bedraggled

vsflea-bitten

4 7.0

Dirty and untidy, often wet after being in rain or mud

refers to being shabby from neglect rather than mainly wet or soaked

M

moth-eaten

vsflea-bitten

1 4.8

Old clothing or fabric with small holes made by moths

means shabby from age or neglect without implying pest damage

T

tattered

vsflea-bitten

1 4.5

In a very poor state after long use or damage

focuses on shabby from age or neglect rather than torn damage

B

battered

vsflea-bitten

3.7

An object that is damaged and has many marks from rough use

describes general shabby state from age or neglect rather than impact

R

raggy

vsflea-bitten

4.2

Appears torn or worn, like old clothes with holes

describes shabby look from neglect rather than resembling rag pieces

T

trampy

vsflea-bitten

• Offensive

8.6

Looking dirty and untidy like someone who lives on the streets

means shabby from age or neglect rather than a specific vagrant style

Antonyms

N

new

∞ 1.0

In original condition and never used before

P

pristine

63 5.1

Very clean and fresh, like new

How Shabby

squalid

9 7.1

seedy

• Informal

26 6.1

flea-bitten

• Archaic

2 7.8

shabby

33 2.5

worn

4 2.1

Surface Forms

Etymology