at the seams

phrase

: entirely, completely
falling apart at the seams

Examples of at the seams in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The state lawmaker said grommets were ripped out, and the flags torn apart at the seams. — Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 4 July 2026 This poppy, edgy fusion of imagery and sound creates a unique world pulsing at the seams. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026 Cybersecurity most often fails at the seams, in those in-between spaces where there’s no clear responsibility and, thus, no one feels accountable. — Vicente Pava, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of at the seams was in 1959

Rhymes for at the seams

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Browse Nearby Words

at the same time
at the seams
at the sight of
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Cite this Entry

“At the seams.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20the%20seams. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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