BURNS OUT Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

burns out

verb

present tense third-person singular of burn out

as in wears

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

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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 burns out When the candle burns out, upcycle the elegant blue jar into a seashell or trinket holder to keep the beachy vibes going. — Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for burns out

Verb

The juror sitting closest to the Shakur family wears a dark suit and tie to court every day.

— Andy Rose, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Three weeks of racing before Tadej Pogačar wears the red jersey on the final podium in Granada.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of wears

Verb

Airstrike in Gaza kills a 4-year-old Four-year-old Mohammed Taha died after an Israeli airstrike hit a house in central Gaza on Sunday, hospital authorities said.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Giving a mother who kills preferential treatment harkens to the patronizing assumption that women lack agency.

— Dr. Susan Hatters Friedman, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of kills

Verb

If a bureaucratic process exhausts whatever time a citizen has available, then benefits are lost or rights are denied.

— Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026
That’s because even ordinary winds – and far worse, storms and earthquakes – cause tall buildings to sway, which ruins people’s concentration, wrecks their mood, and even exhausts them.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 July 2026

Definition of exhausts

Verb

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
Kenner said Thuja will only truly rest after a long session of training or searching, which tires out not only her body but also her brain.

— Liz Teitz, San Antonio Express-News, 19 Mar. 2026

Definition of tires

Verb

Sonny Liston knocks out Floyd Patterson in 2 minutes, 10 seconds of the first round to retain the world heavyweight title.

— Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
Eventually, Butch breaks free and knocks out the Gimp, effectively hanging him since he’d been strung up.

— Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2026

Definition of knocks out

Verb

Once the cycle is complete, the dirty water drains away and you’re left with clean, wet clothing.

— Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026
Defensiveness extends conversations, weakens credibility and drains emotional energy that could have been directed toward solving problems.

— Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of drains

Verb

If your compressor fails after years of normal use or your system simply wears out after heavy usage, homeowners insurance typically won't pay for a replacement because the failure wasn't caused by a covered peril.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 30 July 2026
But in the end, this mostly dialogue-less experiment, which leans heavily on its lively soundtrack, leaves us emotionally removed and eventually wears out its welcome.

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 23 July 2026