exhaustion
noun
ex·haus·tion
ig-ˈzȯs-chən 
: the act or process of exhausting : the state of being exhausted
Examples of exhaustion in a Sentence
He worked to the point of complete exhaustion.
the exhaustion of our natural resources
Recent Examples on the Web
But at times, the exhaustion — both physical and emotional — shows through.
—
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Sinclair’s work on senescence intersects with new therapeutic directions in oncology, from CAR-T failures linked to T-cell exhaustion to the growing interest in senolytic adjuvants.
—Gilberto Lopes, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
There’s a collective exhaustion with aggression, dominance being dressed up as confidence and leadership styles that demand sacrifice without offering sustainability.
—Kelly Ehlers, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2026
But six days into 2025, Peter Seidler’s widow contested control of the team in a lawsuit brought against her brothers-in-law, and manager Mike Shildt retired 11 days after the season ended, citing exhaustion, while many on his staff and in the front office had been exhausted by him.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exhaustion
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Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Sinclair’s work on senescence intersects with new therapeutic directions in oncology, from CAR-T failures linked to T-cell exhaustion to the growing interest in senolytic adjuvants.
—Gilberto Lopes, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
There’s a collective exhaustion with aggression, dominance being dressed up as confidence and leadership styles that demand sacrifice without offering sustainability.
—Kelly Ehlers, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2026
But six days into 2025, Peter Seidler’s widow contested control of the team in a lawsuit brought against her brothers-in-law, and manager Mike Shildt retired 11 days after the season ended, citing exhaustion, while many on his staff and in the front office had been exhausted by him.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exhaustion
Cite this Entry
“Exhaustion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhaustion. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exhaustion
noun
ex·haus·tion
ig-ˈzȯs-chən
1
: the act of exhausting
2
: the state of being exhausted
Medical Definition
exhaustion
noun
ex·haus·tion
ig-ˈzȯs-chən
1
: the act or process of exhausting : the state of being exhausted
suffered from physical and mental exhaustion
see heat exhaustion
2
: neurosis following overstrain or overexertion especially in military combat
Legal Definition
exhaustion
noun
ex·haus·tion
: the act or process of exhausting
even after the exhaustion of direct appellate review—W. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel
W. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel
specifically
: exhaustion of remedies
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