fatigue

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noun fa·tigue \ fə-ˈtēg \

Definition of fatigue

1 a :labor

b :manual or menial work (such as the cleaning up of a camp area) performed by military personnel

c fatigues plural :the uniform or work clothing worn on fatigue and in the field

2 a :weariness or exhaustion from labor, exertion, or stress

We were overcome by fatigue after the long hike.

b :the temporary loss of power to respond that is induced in a sensory receptor (see receptor a) or motor (see ²motor 1) end organ by continued stimulation

3 :the tendency of a material to break under repeated stress

metal fatigue

See fatigue defined for English-language learners

See fatigue defined for kids

Examples of fatigue in a Sentence

We were overcome by fatigue after the long journey.
The drug's side effects include headache and fatigue.
soldiers wearing combat boots and fatigues
The cracks in the engine were caused by metal fatigue.

Recent Examples of fatigue from the Web

Under Armour’s Record Equipped running shoes have inbuilt sensors that can evaluate fatigue level based on performance in a jump test.

— tom taylor, SI.com, "NFL Technology: What’s New for the 2017 Season," 30 Aug. 2017
His fatigue level is the most important factor right now.

— john eligon and victor mather, New York Times, "Mayweather vs. McGregor: Highlights From Every Round," 27 Aug. 2017
Then there’s this account from Alan Zimmerman, president of Charlottesville’s Congregation Beth Israel synagogue: For half an hour, three men dressed in fatigues and armed with semi-automatic rifles stood across the street from the temple.

— jesse singal, Daily Intelligencer, "The Careful, Pragmatic Case Against Punching Nazis," 19 Aug. 2017
While Odor was surging this time a year ago in his third full season, Mazara was starting to show signs of fatigue and some difficulty adjusting to the league’s adjustments to him after a torrid start to his career.

— jeff wilson, star-telegram, "Mazara, Odor giving lift to Rangers’ offense," 18 Aug. 2017
Additionally, people who bingewatched had higher rates of poor sleep quality, insomnia, and fatigue; bingewatching was to blame for almost one-third of people who reported bad sleep patterns.

— lily herman, Teen Vogue, "Bingewatching Netflix Could Be Making You Tired," 16 Aug. 2017
Ignored because disaster fatigue and a kind of resigned tolerance to destruction of the heart led me to ignore all the warnings.

— alice anderson, Good Housekeeping, "After I Survived Hurricane Katrina, My Husband Violently Attacked Me," 16 Aug. 2017
After five practices, Newton experienced fatigue and soreness in his right shoulder.

— mark inabinett, AL.com, "NFL preseason Week 1: Cam Newton won't play for Carolina Panthers," 9 Aug. 2017
New research on chronic fatigue syndrome has shed light on possible causes for this mysterious illness, and has given hope to the millions of people believed to suffer from the disease worldwide.

— ben panko, Smithsonian, "New Study Gives Hope to Victims of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome," 2 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fatigue.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of fatigue

French, from Middle French, from fatiguer to fatigue, from Latin fatigare; akin to Latin affatim sufficiently

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1669

See Words from the same year

fatigue Synonyms

Synonyms

burnout, collapse, exhaustion, frazzle, lassitude, prostration, tiredness, weariness

Antonyms

refreshment, rejuvenation, rejuvenescence, revitalization

Related Words

debilitation, debility, disablement, enervation, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, frailness, frailty, impotence, infirmity, weakness; overfatigue; languor, lethargy, listlessness; sluggishness, slumber, stupor, torpidity, torpor; apathy, inertia, passiveness, passivity

Near Antonyms

bounce, dash, drive, energy, ginger, go, liveliness, pep, punch, sap, snap, starch, verve, vigor, vim, vitality, zing, zip; might, muscle, potency, power, puissance, strength; briskness, jauntiness, spiritedness, sprightliness, vivaciousness, vivacity

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

fatigue

verb

Definition of fatigue

fatigued; fatiguing

transitive verb

1 :to weary with labor or exertion

2 :to induce a condition of fatigue in

intransitive verb

:to suffer fatigue

—

fatiguingly

play \fə-ˈtē-giŋ-lē\ adverb

See fatigue defined for English-language learners

Examples of fatigue in a Sentence

the rescue workers pressed on, though their efforts to reach the miners had almost completely fatigued them

Recent Examples of fatigue from the Web

He was fatigued just before the All-Star break, returned strong, and then has struggled of late.

— bob nightengale, USA TODAY, "Cubs place Jon Lester on 10-day DL with shoulder fatigue," 18 Aug. 2017
That openness, warmth, and acceptance are part of the draw to those fatigued by the snooty social hierarchies that dominate others parts of the Hamptons.

— hannah seligson, Town & Country, "Why Sag Harbor Is No Longer the Hamptons' Best-Kept Secret," 4 Aug. 2017
People who are worn down and fatigued by what didn’t work?

— milwaukee, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Borsuk: In Milwaukee, steady as she goes replaces boldness in the school scene," 21 July 2017
By FC Cincinnati manager Alan Koch's own admission, St. Louis appeared fatigued back when the teams met in April, and that was more than likely the case as St. Louis was playing its third game in a week.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "Match day 15: FC Cincy welcomes St. Louis FC back to Nippert," 23 June 2017
But online calls for street protests achieved a meager response, likely a sign of how Egyptians have become fatigued by recent years’ instability, cowed by security crackdowns and consumed with economic privations.

— Washington Post, "Egypt islands deal with Saudi pits government against courts," 19 June 2017
But if you are not fatigued by the internet's inexplicable obsession, and want to tap into the mystical creature's aesthetic, the shower is the place to start.

— lauren valenti, Marie Claire, "You Can Now Strobe in the Shower Thanks to Frank Body's New Shimmer Coffee Scrub," 20 Apr. 2017
A battered, fatigued Brando thought that simply showing up was enough.

— alec baldwin, HWD, "Cover Story: Alec Baldwin Sounds Off," 28 Mar. 2017
Regardless, not being able to check-in to hotels or apartment rentals until mid-afternoon means wandering unfamiliar cities, dragging luggage and aching bodies around, and more often than not arguing when fatigued, overwhelmed, and hungry.

— cnt editors, Condé Nast Traveler, "Why You Should Stay Awake After a Red-Eye Flight," 14 Mar. 2017

Origin and Etymology of fatigue

see ¹fatigue

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1693

See Words from the same year

fatigue Synonyms

Synonyms

break, burn out, bust, do in, do up, drain, fag, exhaust, frazzle, harass, kill, knock out, outwear, tire, tucker (out), wash out, wear, wear out, weary

Related Words

debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, sap, waste, weaken

Near Antonyms

activate, energize, invigorate, rejuvenate, strengthen, vitalize; relax, rest, unwind

Synonym Discussion of fatigue

tire, weary, fatigue, exhaust, jade mean to make or become unable or unwilling to continue. tire implies a draining of one's strength or patience.

- the long ride tired us out

weary stresses tiring until one is unable to endure more of the same thing.

- wearied of the constant arguing

fatigue suggests great lassitude from excessive strain or undue effort.

- fatigued by the day's chores

exhaust implies complete draining of strength by hard exertion.

- shoveling snow exhausted him

jade suggests the loss of all freshness and eagerness.

- appetites jaded by overindulgence

fatigue

adjective

Definition of fatigue

1 :consisting of, done, or used in fatigue

fatigue detail

2 :belonging to fatigues

a fatigue cap

Origin and Etymology of fatigue

see ¹fatigue

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1774

See Words from the same year

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

FATIGUE Defined for English Language Learners

fatigue

play

noun

Definition of fatigue for English Language Learners

: the state of being very tired : extreme weariness
fatigues : the uniform that soldiers wear when they are doing physical work
: the tendency of a material (such as metal) to break after being bent or moved many times

fatigue

verb

Definition of fatigue for English Language Learners

: to make (someone) tired

FATIGUE Defined for Kids

fatigue

play

noun fa·tigue \ fə-ˈtēg \

Definition of fatigue for Students

1 :a state of being very tired

2 fatigues plural :the uniform worn by members of the military for physical labor

fatigue

verb

Definition of fatigue for Students

fatigued; fatiguing

:to tire by work or exertion

a fatiguing hike

Medical Dictionary

fatigue

play

noun fa·tigue \ fə-ˈtēg \

medical Definition of fatigue

1 :weariness or exhaustion from labor, exertion, or stress

2 :the temporary loss of power to respond induced in a sensory receptor or motor end organ by continued stimulation

fatigue

verb

medical Definition of fatigue

fatigued; fatiguing

transitive verb

1 :to weary with labor or exertion

2 :to induce a condition of fatigue in (as an effector organ)

intransitive verb

:to be affected with fatigue :become weary

Learn More about fatigue

See words that rhyme with fatigue Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fatigue Spanish Central: Translation of fatigue Nglish: Translation of fatigue for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of fatigue for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fatigue

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fatigue

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Origin and Etymology of fatigue

fatigue Synonyms

Synonyms

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fatigue

Definition of fatigue

fatiguingly

Examples of fatigue in a Sentence

Recent Examples of fatigue from the Web

Origin and Etymology of fatigue

fatigue Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of fatigue

fatigue

Definition of fatigue

Origin and Etymology of fatigue

Other Military Terms

FATIGUE Defined for English Language Learners

fatigue

Definition of fatigue for English Language Learners

fatigue

Definition of fatigue for English Language Learners

FATIGUE Defined for Kids

fatigue

Definition of fatigue for Students

fatigue

Definition of fatigue for Students

Medical Dictionary

fatigue

medical Definition of fatigue

fatigue

medical Definition of fatigue

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