world-weary

adjective

world-wea·​ry ˈwərld-ˌwir-ē 

: 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

The older, world-weary Jae-hwan (Park Hae-il) leads the City Desk, and investigates the event from a distance with the help of his police source, diligent detective Cheol-goo (Yoo Hai-jin). — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026

Moore is genuinely hilarious in the role, transforming under the tutelage of Paul Giamatti’s world-weary director character Jerry from a timid mouse into an indomitable and histrionic artist. — Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026

The flip side of Salinger’s bleak depiction is a childhood full of free expression and natural development, unburdened by the power, rules, and discipline imposed by world-weary adults and those prone to power. — Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026

This weekend, Peter Parker is back — a little older, more world-weary and facing a far less forgiving market. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for world-weary

• kashmiri
• beery
• bleary
• cheery
• cirri
• dearie
• deary
• dreary
• eerie
• kiri
• leary
• leery