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tatty

tatty

2 6.0
Worn and in poor condition because of age or heavy use
  • adjective
  • /ˈtæti/
  • UK
translation icon : desgastado
  • She'd spread a tatty blanket over the grass and fallen onto it; the summer sky above her was jam-packed with unknown constellations.
  • a tatty robe
  • rather tatty

I've seen plants that are like nowhere near as nice as this or just like ratty and tatty or hardly variegated.

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Examples

  • She wore a nightgown under a tatty flannel robe, and her feet were thrust into fluffy pink mules.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The place was still tatty despite the money that had recently been poured in.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • His coat is even a little tatty, but on him it's adorable, not sad.

    Blog text (25)

  • They're a bit tatty, but they'll do.

    Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

  • Some people were already sleeping there, wrapped in tatty blankets or cast-off beach towels that had seen better days.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • A tatty banner across the back of the stage proclaims: UNDER THE UNDERGROUND PRESENTS THANATOS.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The midday sun shining through the windows makes the place look tatty and slightly desperate: this is a place that needs low light and long shadows to look good.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Otherwise, he is indistinguishable from those we saw on the street outside: ragged, tatty clothes, features blackened with grime.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • I had few accommodations for visitors, so the sergeant sat in the swivel chair behind my desk while I pulled up a rather tatty leather ottoman.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The children's play area was filled with tatty toys that had clearly been well-loved.

Synonyms

shabby
vstatty
33 2.5

Worn and in poor condition because of long use or little care

means worn by age or use rather than only by neglect
mangy
vstatty
  • Offensive
28 6.5

Worn and dirty, in bad condition

is shabby from use or age without the dirty or diseased sense
dingy
vstatty
23 4.6

Dark and dirty so it does not look bright

is shabby in condition rather than merely lacking brightness
ratty
vstatty
  • Informal
19 5.4

Looking worn and dirty from use

is worn because of age or use but may not be dirty
ragged
vstatty
16 3.2

Old, torn clothes that are in poor condition

describes worn condition from age or use without focus on tears
raggedy
vstatty
  • Informal
12 4.0

Something that looks worn, torn, and messy

is worn by use but not especially messy
tattered
vstatty
4 4.1

Old and torn clothes or fabric with loose threads

is worn from age or use but not necessarily torn
grotty
vstatty
  • UK
2 8.4

Looks dirty and unpleasant, often like a shabby room or shop

is worn or shabby without the strong disgust or squalor tone
moth-eaten
vstatty
1 4.8

Old clothing or fabric with small holes made by moths

describes general wear from age or use rather than insect holes
tatterdemalion
vstatty
  • Archaic
9.9

Wearing old, torn, and dirty clothes

is worn and shabby but usually less extremely ragged
raggy
vstatty
4.2

Appears torn or worn, like old clothes with holes

is worn from age or use rather than literally raglike
dingly
vstatty
  • UK
9.2

Small and a little worn but with a cozy charm

is generally worn or shabby but lacks cozy charm

Antonyms

new
∞ 1.0

In original condition and never used before

pristine
63 5.1

Very clean and fresh, like new

How Worn

tattered
1 4.5
tatty
  • UK
2 6.0
worn
4 2.1
ragged
21 3.5

Surface Forms

tatty positive

Morphology

tatty = tat (semi-transparent) = tat + y

The word is built from tat + -y, but the jump from 'junk/shoddy stuff' to 'shabby or worn' is only partly predictable.

Etymology

Tatty comes from the word tatter, which means 'a torn piece of cloth'. So, tatty describes clothes or furniture that look worn, old, and full of holes or rips.