weariness 1 of 3

Definition of wearinessnext

weary

2 of 3

adjective

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

3 of 3

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

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 weariness
Noun
Fortunately for me, the staff sensed my weariness—along with some lingering dizziness from the winding drive up—upon arrival. Annie Daly, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2026 Here in San Diego — where seaside calm and crowded boardwalks conceal deeper civic fatigue — the same national weariness swirls beneath daily life. Phillip Halpern, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The public grew weary and confused. Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026 There’s a hot tub outside as well as a compact indoor sauna (top-notch for soothing weary muscles). Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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 And then, with wearying inevitability, the Premier League would follow suit. Oliver Kay, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for weariness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weariness
Noun
  • But if span-of-control inflation is so severe that managers can’t do the expert part of their job either, the model risks producing neither efficiency nor mentorship, just exhaustion.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Little matchsticks lie flat on its surface, and then suddenly pop up and jitter across its surface, only to fall again, in seeming exhaustion.
    Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Cats may also climb due to boredom, excess energy, stress, or a need to escape from people or other pets.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Caldwell carried a walkie-talkie to stay in touch with Ingrid, whose boredom in the van had been vigorously articulated across the airwaves.
    Namir Khaliq, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • For workers who are tired of their jobs following them home every night, and for businesses that are tired of the burnout, the turnover, and the chaos that comes from not having boundaries, Zenzap is the work chat app that changes everything.
    Jason Phillips, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
  • One still gets tired of the Wednesday rice and fish dish.
    Jeremy O. Harris, Vanity Fair, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Additionally, note that the reasons children get bored at school aren’t mutually exclusive.
    Amanda Morin, Parents, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Martha, bored, had tried an experiment.
    Cassandra Neyenesch, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Collective processes involve tiring negotiations, frequent conflicts, and disappointing compromises, both internally among the team and with external interlocutors and partners.
    Adam Szymczyk, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
  • This can occasionally become tiring, and the back half of the record is littered with tracks that work better as gay WrestleMania intros than as actual songs.
    Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Nobody should be bored with that.
    Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Its wood is so dense that pests can’t bore into it.
    Big Think, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The temperature at first pitch was 37 degrees and continued to drop, with players wearing full sleeves and many wearing head coverings.
    CBS News, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Players schlep downstairs, wearing slippers or sandals, and walk through the game plan and what to expect from their opponents.
    Joe Vardon, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Eating either too many or not enough calories can contribute to fatigue, injuries, illness, poor performance and prolonged recovery from sports injuries.
    Dr. Sarah Kinsella, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
  • He was removed with what was called right arm fatigue.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Weariness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weariness. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on weariness

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