An old ſet-ſtitch’d chair, valanced and fringed around with party-colour’d worſted bobs, ſtood at the bed’s head, oppoſite to the ſide where my father’s head reclined.
Source: wiktionary
Worsted
/ˈwʊs.tɪd/
Synonyms for "worsted" (61 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (13)
Noun(2 words)
combed wool fabriccombed wool yarn
Strong matches (18)
Related words (30)
Noun(7 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: all up with, beat, beaten, bested, combed wool fabric.
- Sentence evidence is available for worsted, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "worsted".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "worsted"
Keep "worsted" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "worsted" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "worsted", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "worsted" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
8 entriesMore specific
8 entriesmidweight yarnworsted clothworsted fabricworsted sergeworsted suitingsworsted twillworsted weight yarnworsted yarn
Collocations
7 entriescombed woolworsted clothworsted fabricworsted suitingsworsted weightworsted woolworsted yarn
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
1 entriesSample sentences
9 total sentences available.
[T]he kitten had been having a grand game of romps with the ball of worsted Alice had been trying to wind up, and had been rolling it up and down till it had all come undone again; […]
Source: wiktionary
"Yes, young people are usually blind to everything but their own wishes, and seldom imagine how much those wishes cost others," said Mrs Garth. She did not mean to go beyond this salutary general doctrine, and threw her indignation into a needless unwinding of her worsted, knitting her brow at it with a grand air.
Source: wiktionary
Finally he took a ball of worsted and tied strings of it across the back passage and across the opposite door.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 9 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "worsted"?
Closest matches include all up with, beat, beaten, bested, combed wool fabric.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "worsted"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.