as in wearing
to use up all the physical energy of
working 12-hour days at that job just burned me out
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Recent Examples of burning out
Having a system in place can help entrepreneurs hit ambitious goals without burning out the company or the people in it.
—
Laura Jayne Waters, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
And the difference between making a career and building a flywheel is the difference between burning out at year ten and still going at year thirty.
—Daren Smith, IndieWire, 27 May 2026
For one year as well, apprentices stay protected, working with a senior employee to avoid burning out.
—Megan Shinn, CBS News, 18 May 2026
High school coaches cut back on mileage and intensity in response to charges that runners were burning out in their teens.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Keeping it fresh How has a band that’s been together for more than 50 years managed to remain a creative force without burning out, splitting up or devolving into little more than a human jukebox pumping out nostalgia?
—Marc Ballon, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
All that, in a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers to keep the final embers of the Red Wings’ playoff hopes from burning out.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
The fire broke out for a short time before burning out by itself, police said, adding that no one was injured.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026
Families are aging, caregivers are burning out, and too many people are forced into crisis placements or inappropriate settings because suitable housing options simply do not exist.
—Fay Lenz, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
Laura Jayne Waters, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
And the difference between making a career and building a flywheel is the difference between burning out at year ten and still going at year thirty.
—Daren Smith, IndieWire, 27 May 2026
For one year as well, apprentices stay protected, working with a senior employee to avoid burning out.
—Megan Shinn, CBS News, 18 May 2026
High school coaches cut back on mileage and intensity in response to charges that runners were burning out in their teens.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Keeping it fresh How has a band that’s been together for more than 50 years managed to remain a creative force without burning out, splitting up or devolving into little more than a human jukebox pumping out nostalgia?
—Marc Ballon, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
All that, in a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers to keep the final embers of the Red Wings’ playoff hopes from burning out.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
The fire broke out for a short time before burning out by itself, police said, adding that no one was injured.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026
Families are aging, caregivers are burning out, and too many people are forced into crisis placements or inappropriate settings because suitable housing options simply do not exist.
—Fay Lenz, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burning out
Verb
-
On July 15th, 2020, the CDC Director recommended all Americans start wearing masks as a way to 'get the epidemic under control,' citing a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly (MMWR) study involving two hairstylists in Missouri.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
-
Getting off the plane, Chamberlain was wearing shades on a gloomy day.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Most of the strikes occur in the summer, killing 20 people each year, according to the NWS.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
-
Basically, tick tubes are cardboard tubes that have been filled with cotton that’s been treated with permethrin, a tick-killing chemical.—
Molly Burford,
Southern Living,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
But eventually, the structure itself needs to be questioned, because getting that balance right becomes the difference between retaining strong leaders and slowly exhausting them.—
Bronwen Sciortino,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
Sliding effortlessly from incisive observer to chaotic flirt to exhausting narcissist, Firstman is never not in on the joke.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
Verb
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These design aspects allow users to operate it for extended periods without tiring or switching between different power outlets.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
-
This helps each step feel lighter and easier, diminishing fatigue and letting the wearer venture out farther without tiring.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Zelensky said in his nightly address Monday that between between January and May, Ukrainian troops have struck 15 Russian oil refineries, knocking out 40% of Russia’s main oil refining capacity.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
-
Strong to severe thunderstorms with brilliant lightning and booming thunder swept through the Kansas City area early Monday, knocking out power to thousands and downing some trees and limbs in the metro.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
Verb
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As plastics break down, whether that be through washing polyester clothing or wearing out our tires, microscopic particles of plastic shed, small enough to be picked up and transported by the air.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
7 May 2026
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If a device frequently drops connection and can be fixed with a wiggle, there’s a good chance something is wearing out in the cable.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Slow watering also prevents damage to the plants and protects the soil from washing out.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
19 May 2026
-
Andrew Tate is not washing out.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But the recession of 1969–70 hit New York hard, draining the city of half a million jobs.—
Kevin Lozano,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
-
Making the powder involves several steps, including milk testing and pasteurization, the separation of curds and whey, draining and pasteurizing the liquid whey, and then sending it to a processing facility to remove more liquid via evaporation and spray drying.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burning out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burning%20out. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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