beaten-up
Definition
Adjective: - Damaged by blows or hard usage: Describes an object, typically a vehicle or piece of equipment, that shows significant physical wear, damage, or deterioration from rough treatment, age, or neglect. It implies a worn-out and shabby appearance.
Usage
This adjective is used attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb like 'be' or 'look') to describe the poor condition of an item. - It most commonly modifies nouns like car, truck, van, suitcase, or hat. - It conveys a sense of being well-used, neglected, or abused, often but not always from physical impacts.
Examples
- Attributive use (before a noun):
- He drove a beaten-up old van for his deliveries.
- She pulled a few photos from her beaten-up leather suitcase.
- Predicative use (after a linking verb):
- That car looks really beaten-up; I'm surprised it still runs.
- The furniture they found in the attic was old and beaten-up.
Advanced Usage
- Emphatic or figurative use: Can sometimes be used to describe a person's exhausted or weary appearance, though this is less common.
- After the long shift, the nurses looked completely beaten-up.
Variants and Related Words
- Battered (adj.): Very similar in meaning, often implying damage from repeated blows. (e.g., a hat).
- Dilapidated (adj.): Refers to something in a state of disrepair or ruin, especially a building. It suggests decay rather than impact damage.
- Beat-up (adj.): A common variant with identical meaning and usage (e.g., a truck).
Synonyms
- Battered
- Banged-up
- Battered and bruised
- Worn-out
- Shabby
- The worse for wear
Antonyms
- Pristine
- Brand new
- Immaculate
- Undamaged
Related Phrases and Idioms
- To be beaten to a pulp: An idiom meaning to be severely beaten or defeated. While related in imagery, it is distinct and typically refers to people or abstract concepts (e.g., an argument).
- Look like it's been through the wars: An idiom describing something that appears very worn or damaged, similar in meaning to "beaten-up."
Adjective
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damaged by blows or hard usage
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a battered old car
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the beaten-up old Ford
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