BURN OUT Synonyms: 99 Similar and Opposite Words

burnout 1 of 2

noun

ˈbərn-ˌau̇t

Definition of burnout

as in exhaustion

a complete depletion of energy or strength people in that job often suffer burnout and have to retire at a relatively early age

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

burn out

2 of 2

verb

as in to wear

to use up all the physical energy of working 12-hour days at that job just burned me out

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 burnout

Noun

First and foremost, breaks from the stress and toil of work are essential components of healing from burnout. — Dj Didonna, Time, 13 July 2026 The version of burnout Brunner sees most often in high-achieving women does not always look like collapse. — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 13 July 2026

Verb

For anyone burned out on the same restaurant rotation, these are the kinds of nights out that make a Tuesday feel different from a Thursday. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026 The castles burnt out one after another amid the joyous cries of the multitude. — Literary Hub, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for burnout

Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnout

Noun

Competing demands — for example, from illness, injury, or chronic stress — can appear not only as poor health, but also as negative conscious experiences such as anxiety, brain fog, and exhaustion.

— Rachel Nuwer, Quanta Magazine, 17 July 2026
Barrett said the goal is for the justices to have as large a security detail as those dedicated to Cabinet members, in part to avoid burnout and exhaustion among the four to eight officers typically assigned to each justice.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 14 July 2026

Definition of exhaustion

Noun

If testosterone levels are too low, at any age, this can lead to muscle and bone weakness, fatigue, and decline in libido.

— Nina Shapiro, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
Warning signs worth flagging to a doctor include loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, severe daytime fatigue, persistent low mood, rapid heart rate and unexplained weight changes.

— Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 July 2026

Definition of fatigue

Verb

During the first four months of 2026 alone, drone strikes killed at least 880 civilians and accounted for more than 80% of civilian deaths recorded by the UN.

— Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
The fire killed 168 people, most likely because of unscrupulous contractors who used shoddy materials.

— New York Times, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Definition of kill

Verb

With little time to recover on the ball, such sequences only serve to exhaust Argentina, running low on energy to exert such pressure themselves.

— Thom Harris, New York Times, 20 July 2026
This rule doesn’t apply to the high school class of 2022, many of whom exhausted their NCAA eligibility with the 2025-26 season.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of exhaust

Verb

The game slows not only because bodies tire more quickly, but because players begin pacing themselves earlier — conserving energy for the moments that matter most.

— Alan McCall, New York Times, 11 July 2026
More than 90% agreed or strongly agreed that scent work is enjoyable for dogs, tires them out and builds confidence in shy dogs.

— Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026

Definition of tire

Verb

The shattered standing forlornly by the podium at the end of a draining tournament, hearts broken, bodies exhausted, having to watch as the opposition receive the reward that England were agonisingly close to.

— Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Ryan Fox took home the Claret Jug after draining a birdie putt on the 18th hole to win the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on Sunday.

— Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 19 July 2026

Definition of drain

Verb

Hiking clubs as a new dating scene Singles worn out by dating apps are also finding their way to hiking clubs, and psychotherapists say the format is uniquely suited to romantic connection.

— Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026
Little by little, basic supplies, such as boots and uniforms, were no longer being replaced when they got worn out.

— Juan Carlos Albarran, The Conversation, 13 July 2026

Definition of wear out

Browse Nearby Words

burnooses

burnout

burn out

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Style

“Burnout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnout. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of burnout

noun

verb

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