world-weary

adjective

world-wea·​ry ˈwərld-ˌwir-ē How to pronounce world-weary (audio)
Synonyms of world-wearynext
: feeling or showing fatigue from or boredom with the life of the world and especially material pleasures
world-weariness noun

Examples of world-weary 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 hardened look of a world-weary MI6 agent. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026 Everything is grounded in Turturro’s attentive but world-weary gaze. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026 The second interpretation purports to be more hardheaded and sensible, wiser and world-weary after so many years of watching Trump at work. Ross Douthat, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026 In the show, Wyle plays the compassionate and increasingly world-weary Dr. Robby, who contends with the daily onslaught of injury at a Pittsburgh trauma center based on the one at Allegheny General Hospital. Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for world-weary

Word History

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of world-weary was in 1750

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Cite this Entry

“World-weary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/world-weary. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

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