Definition of wearynext
1
2
3
as in tiring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest a weary march through a lot of boring facts and figures

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

weary

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word weary distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of weary are exhaust, fatigue, jade, and tire. While all these words mean "to make or become unable or unwilling to continue," weary stresses tiring until one is unable to endure more of the same thing.

wearied of the constant arguing

When is it sensible to use exhaust instead of weary?

The meanings of exhaust and weary largely overlap; however, exhaust implies complete draining of strength by hard exertion.

shoveling snow exhausted him

In what contexts can fatigue take the place of weary?

The synonyms fatigue and weary are sometimes interchangeable, but fatigue suggests great lassitude from excessive strain or undue effort.

fatigued by the day's chores

Where would jade be a reasonable alternative to weary?

While the synonyms jade and weary are close in meaning, jade suggests the loss of all freshness and eagerness.

appetites jaded by overindulgence

When is tire a more appropriate choice than weary?

Although the words tire and weary have much in common, tire implies a draining of one's strength or patience.

the long ride tired us out

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of weary
Adjective
There’s no rest for the weary, with the Texans expected to be one of the AFC’s toughest opponents for anyone unfortunate enough to be on their schedule. — Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2026 But after Mulliken’s 45-yard strike to Erickson gave Campo a 10-7 second-quarter lead, Bellarmine cranked up the pressure and a weary undersized offensive line was no longer able to give him time. — Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
Even for those spared personal catastrophe, the broader atmosphere has been wearying; institutions strained, norms eroded, tempers short. — Phillip Halpern, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Jan. 2026 Though their studio albums of the period all reached the top 20, the Dead were wearied by operating their own label, and Grateful Dead Records folded in late 1976. — Chris Morris, Variety, 10 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for weary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weary
Adjective
  • The media never tired of describing Sea Change as his great breakup record.
    — Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
  • For those who are tired of such narratives, the appeal of the show will be in its interpretive stagecraft, which is impressive and clever.
    — Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Cut sketches include one in which Mitchell and Webb play English Civil War re-enactors who have grown bored of their roles and recreate a conflict between government forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo and a rebel militia.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026
  • His parents, both surgeons, moved around a lot and Liu would often get bored, turning to drawing to pass the time.
    — Lavender Au, ARTnews.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Swatting at wasps is a bad idea, and simply running from them gets tiring.
    — Nick Perry, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Smith, too, struggled to escape the clutches of a Burnley defence that saw Hjalmar Ekdal replace the tiring Igor midway through the second half.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • After three to four days, the larva hatches and uses sharp mandibles to bore into the still-living tarantula.
    — Sean Donnelly, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The machinery that collapsed was a drill rig, which was boring holes for the pilings to support the weight of the supertall skyscraper that will go up on the site.
    — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Castro wore an orange jumpsuit and appeared behind a glass enclosure.
    — TIM SULLIVAN, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
  • No shoe can do it all, but in our opinion, a great sneaker comes pretty close — just look at the celebs who can’t stop wearing them.
    — Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Olivier tortured himself over her condition, remorseful and exhausted.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Among the items are discarded personal protective equipment, thermal insulation, electrical cabling, structural steel, rebar, loose soil, building concrete, and exhausted ion-exchange resins taken from water filtration networks.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Season 3 sees Gordon and Ashley once again reexamining their relationship, now with the wearied caution of a couple who’ve hurt each other — and the reckless affection that can’t be repressed without losing a crucial part of your soul.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • As a matter of fact, this will probably be one of the more boring editions of this column.
    — Gary Davenport, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Alice’s viewpoint is boring, and anyone who agonizes about it forever will never get to the interesting parts.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Weary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weary. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster