(the) worse for wear
idiom
: in worse condition after doing or experiencing something
He came out of basic training only slightly the worse for wear.
The kids emerged from the woods looking none the worse for wear.
Examples of (the) worse for wear in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If your bathroom towels have been looking a little worse for wear, these plush ones are ready to hang on your towel bar.
—
Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 10 June 2024
After a stint with bleach and blue hair dye, my lengths were a little worse for wear.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 25 Jan. 2024
At 50, an age when many rock vocalists must start reckoning with the toll of time, Stapp benefits from having stuck to a limited range early in life — and thus sounded no worse for wear Wednesday.
—Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 1 Aug. 2024
Oka was impressive from the start, executing consistent routines as the competition unfolded, and appearing none the worse for wear after helping Japan win the team gold two days earlier.
—Alice Park / Paris, TIME, 31 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for (the) worse for wear 
Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 10 June 2024
After a stint with bleach and blue hair dye, my lengths were a little worse for wear.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 25 Jan. 2024
At 50, an age when many rock vocalists must start reckoning with the toll of time, Stapp benefits from having stuck to a limited range early in life — and thus sounded no worse for wear Wednesday.
—Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 1 Aug. 2024
Oka was impressive from the start, executing consistent routines as the competition unfolded, and appearing none the worse for wear after helping Japan win the team gold two days earlier.
—Alice Park / Paris, TIME, 31 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for (the) worse for wear
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word '(the) worse for wear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near (the) worse for wear
Cite this Entry
“(the) worse for wear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/%28the%29%20worse%20for%20wear. Accessed 17 Sep. 2024.
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