careworn

adjective

care·​worn ˈker-ˌwȯrn How to pronounce careworn (audio)
Synonyms of carewornnext
: showing the effect of grief or anxiety
a careworn face

Examples of careworn in a Sentence

He has a careworn face. He looks tired and careworn.
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.
With her latest, Grande appears to be tackling another careworn relationship few artists would name out loud: the one with her own obsessive fanbase. Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 On her commute home, a careworn Marie-Lou spots a young man joyfully running through a nearby park. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 15 May 2026 In All of a Sudden, there’s something careworn about Efira’s lunar beauty. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 15 May 2026 Matthew seems careworn, even distracted, struggling to write while leaning his knee on a bench. Virginia Raguin, The Conversation, 6 May 2025 McVie had a foghorn of a voice and a careworn face that conveyed the fallout of many, many years of bus rides, motels and late-night diners. Steve Buckley, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025 Her careworn beauty holds the camera rapt even while silently going about her job in a manner that plays as naturally absorbing. Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of careworn was in 1790

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Careworn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/careworn. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

careworn

adjective
care·​worn -ˌwō(ə)rn How to pronounce careworn (audio)
-ˌwȯ(ə)rn
: showing the effect of grief or worry
a careworn face

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