Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense wearies, present participle wearying, past tense, past participle wearied, comparative wearier, superlative weariest
1. adjective
If you are weary, you are very tired.
Rachel looked pale and weary.
...a weary traveller.
He managed a weary smile.
wearily (wɪərɪli)graded adverb [ADVERB after verb]
I sighed wearily.
He trudged wearily down Arthur Street.
wearinessuncountable noun
Despite his weariness, Brand mustered a wan smile.
He showed absolutely no signs of weariness.
Synonyms: tiredness, fatigue, exhaustion, lethargy More Synonyms of weary
2. adjective
If you are weary of something, you have become tired of it and have lost your enthusiasm for it.
They're getting awfully weary of this silly war. [+ of]
She was weary of being alone.
wearilygraded adverb [usually ADVERB after verb, also ADVERB adjective]
'I'm not Mrs Reynolds,' she said wearily.
Measures like these sound wearily familiar.
3. verb
If you weary of something or it wearies you, you become tired of it and lose your enthusiasm for it.
[formal]
The public had wearied of his repeated warnings of a revolution that never seemedto start. [VERB + of]
He had wearied of teaching in state universities. [Vof n/-ing]
The political hysteria soon wearied him and he dropped the newspaper to the floor. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: grow tired, tire, sicken, have had enough More Synonyms of weary
More Synonyms of weary
weary in British English
(ˈwɪərɪ)
adjectiveWord forms: -rier or -riest
1.
tired or exhausted
2.
causing fatigue or exhaustion
3.
caused by or suggestive of weariness
a weary laugh
4. (postpositive; often foll by of or with)
discontented or bored, esp by the long continuance of something
verbWord forms: -ries, -rying or -ried
5.
to make or become weary
6.
to make or become discontented or impatient, esp by the long continuance of something
Derived forms
wearily (ˈwearily)
adverb
weariness (ˈweariness)
noun
wearying (ˈwearying)
adjective
wearyingly (ˈwearyingly)
adverb
Word origin
Old English wērig; related to Old Saxon wōrig, Old High German wuorag drunk, Greek hōrakian to faint
weary in American English
(ˈwɪri)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈwearier or ˈweariest
1.
tired; worn out
2.
without further liking, patience, tolerance, zeal, etc.; bored
with of
weary of jokes
3.
tiring
weary work
4.
irksome; tedious; tiresome
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈwearied or ˈwearying
5.
to make or become weary
SIMILAR WORDS: tired
Derived forms
wearily (ˈwearily)
adverb
Word origin
ME weri < OE werig, akin to OHG wuorag, drunk < IE base *wōr-, giddiness, faintness > Gr hōrakian, to be giddy
Examples of 'weary' in a sentence
weary
They have looked a little weary so far.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Oracle smiled a weary smile with sadness in it.
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
But there is something oddly weary about their way with an anthem.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
These are not what you could call collectively happy times for our weary land.
The Sun (2014)
The country has become war weary and war averse.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The country gentlemen were growing weary of the war.
French, David The British way in Warfare - 1688-2000 (1990)
The trio look more than a little weary.
The Sun (2009)
America has become weary with the travails of carmakers producing unpopular vehicles at unsustainable cost.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
My comment draws a weary smile.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Those of us attached to the place have long grown weary of the place's reputation.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
She liked the sound of the phrase, " long and weary march.
Frances Hodgson Burnett A Little Princess (1905)
Two minutes into extra time, our weary legs found new energy and our optimism was confirmed.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
What is militarily desirable may not be politically viable in a war weary Washington.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Looked a little weary after the Inter game.
The Sun (2010)
With a weary smile, she takes to the stage.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Great the first couple of times, wearying after that.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He sounds weary but implacable.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The social worker I spoke to sounded weary.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
One previously loyal MP sounded completely weary as he talked.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
One was bored, weary of attendance at Court.
Kishlansky, Mark A. (editor) Sources of the West: Readings in Western Civilization, Volume 1: From the Beginningto 1715 (1995)
She gives a weary laugh about the criticism: 'I have had some terrible things said about me.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
weary
British English: weary ADJECTIVE
If you are weary, you are very tired.
She looked weary.
American English: weary
Brazilian Portuguese: cansado
Chinese: 疲惫的
European Spanish: cansado
French: épuisé
German: müde
Italian: affaticato
Japanese: とても疲れた
Korean: 지친
European Portuguese: cansado
Latin American Spanish: cansado
Chinese translation of 'weary'
weary
(ˈwɪərɪ)
adj
(= tired) 疲劳(勞)的 (píláo de)
vi
to weary of sb/sth厌(厭)烦(煩)某人/某事 (yànfán mǒurén/mǒushì)
to be weary of sb/sth厌(厭)倦某人/某事 (yànjuàn mǒurén/mǒushì)
1 (adjective)
Definition
very tired
She sank to the ground, too weary to walk another step.
Synonyms
tired
He is tired and he has to rest after his long trip.
exhausted
She was too exhausted even to think clearly.
drained
worn out
I was exhausted – worn out by the strain I'd been under.
spent
After all that exertion, we were completely spent.
done in (informal)
flagging
all in (slang)
Have you eaten? You look all in.
fatigued
How long have you been feeling fatigued?
wearied
sleepy
I was beginning to feel amazingly sleepy.
fagged (informal)
whacked (British, informal)
jaded
We had both become jaded, disinterested and disillusioned.
drooping
knackered (slang)
I was absolutely knackered at the end of the match.
drowsy
He felt pleasantly drowsy.
clapped out (Australian, New Zealand, informal)
enervated
Warm winds make many people feel enervated and depressed.
ready to drop
dog-tired (informal)
zonked (slang)
dead beat (informal)
asleep or dead on your feet (informal)
Opposites
fresh
,
stimulated
,
lively
,
refreshed
,
energetic
,
invigorated
,
full of beans (informal)
,
full of get-up-and-go (informal)
2 (adjective)
Definition
discontented or bored with
I am growing weary of your constant complaints.
Synonyms
fed up
I'm fed up and don't know what to do.
bored
I am getting very bored with this entire business.
sick (informal)
I am sick of hearing all these people moaning.
discontented
impatient
indifferent
jaded
sick and tired (informal)
browned-off (informal)
Opposites
patient
,
excited
,
amused
,
forbearing
3 (adjective)
Definition
causing exhaustion
a long, weary journey in search of food and water
Synonyms
tiring
It had been a long and tiring day.
taxing
You won't be asked to do anything too taxing.
wearing
She finds his continual demands very wearing.
arduous
The task was more arduous than he had calculated.
tiresome
My neighbour is petty and tiresome.
laborious
Keeping the garden tidy all year round can be a laborious task.
irksome
the irksome regulations
wearisome
a long and wearisome task
enervative
Opposites
exciting
,
refreshing
,
invigorating
1 (verb)
Definition
to become discontented or bored with
He had wearied of teaching in state universities.
Synonyms
grow tired
tire
That subject tires me.
sicken
have had enough
become bored
2 (verb)
Definition
to make weary
Her boss's criticism wearied her so much that she left.
Synonyms
bore
Dickie bored him all through the meal with stories of the Navy.
annoy
Try making a note of the things that annoy you.
plague
I'm not going to plague you with a lot of questions.
sicken
jade
exasperate
The constant interruptions were beginning to exasperate me.
vex
Everything about that man vexes me.
irk
The rehearsal process irked him increasingly.
try the patience of
make discontented
Opposites
interest
,
excite
,
amuse
3 (verb)
Definition
to make weary
The work wearied him to the point of exhaustion.
Synonyms
tire
If driving tires you, take the train.
tax
Overcrowding has taxed the city's ability to deal with waste.
burden
drain
My emotional turmoil has drained me.
fatigue
It fatigues me to list them all.
fag (informal)
sap
I was afraid the sickness had sapped my strength.
wear out
debilitate
Fear threatened to debilitate me.
take it out of (informal)
tire out
enervate
fade
droop
Opposites
stimulate
,
revive
,
refresh
,
enliven
,
invigorate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of all in
Have you eaten? You look all in.
Synonyms
tired,
exhausted,
spent,
done in (informal),
flagging,
drained,
fatigued,
weary,
sleepy,
fagged (informal),
whacked (British, informal),
worn out,
drooping,
knackered (slang),
drowsy,
clapped out (British, Australian, New Zealand, informal),
enervated,
ready to drop,
dog-tired (informal),
zonked (slang),
dead beat (informal),
asleep or dead on your feet (informal)
in the sense of annoy
Definition
to irritate or displease
Try making a note of the things that annoy you.
Synonyms
irritate,
trouble,
bore,
anger,
harry,
bother,
disturb,
provoke,
get (informal),
bug (informal),
needle (informal),
plague,
tease,
harass,
hassle (informal),
aggravate (informal),
badger,
gall,
madden,
ruffle,
exasperate,
nettle,
molest,
pester,
vex,
displease,
irk,
bedevil,
rile,
peeve,
get under your skin (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
get up your nose (informal),
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
make your blood boil,
piss you off (taboo, slang),
rub someone up the wrong way (informal),
get your goat (slang),
get in your hair (informal),
get on your wick (British, slang),
get your dander up (informal),
get your back up,
incommode (formal),
put your back up,
hack you off (informal),
be on your back (slang)
in the sense of arduous
Definition
difficult to accomplish
The task was more arduous than he had calculated.
Synonyms
difficult,
trying,
hard,
tough,
tiring,
severe,
painful,
exhausting,
punishing,
harsh,
taxing,
heavy,
steep,
formidable,
fatiguing,
rigorous,
troublesome,
gruelling,
strenuous,
onerous,
laborious,
burdensome,
backbreaking,
toilsome (literary)
Synonyms of 'weary'
weary
Explore 'weary' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bored
I am getting very bored with this entire business.
Synonyms
fed up,
tired,
hacked (off) (US, slang),
wearied,
weary,
pissed off (taboo, slang),
uninterested,
sick and tired (informal),
listless,
browned-off (informal),
brassed off (British, slang),
ennuied,
hoha (New Zealand)
in the sense of debilitate
Definition
to make gradually weaker
Fear threatened to debilitate me.
Synonyms
weaken,
exhaust,
wear out,
sap,
incapacitate,
prostrate,
enfeeble,
enervate,
devitalize
in the sense of drain
Definition
to make constant demands on (energy or resources)
My emotional turmoil has drained me.
Synonyms
exhaust,
tire,
wear out,
strain,
weaken,
fatigue,
weary,
debilitate,
prostrate,
tax,
tire out,
enfeeble,
enervate
in the sense of drowsy
Definition
feeling sleepy
He felt pleasantly drowsy.
Synonyms
sleepy,
tired,
lethargic,
heavy,
nodding,
dazed,
dozy,
comatose,
dopey (slang),
half asleep,
somnolent,
torpid
in the sense of enervate
Definition
to deprive of strength or vitality
Synonyms
weaken,
tire,
exhaust,
fatigue,
paralyse,
sap,
wear out,
debilitate,
unnerve,
wash out,
incapacitate,
prostrate,
enfeeble,
devitalize
in the sense of enervated
Warm winds make many people feel enervated and depressed.
Synonyms
weakened,
spent,
done in (informal),
weak,
tired,
drained,
undermined,
exhausted,
fatigued,
rundown,
limp,
feeble,
sapped,
worn out,
debilitated,
unnerved,
washed out,
incapacitated,
enfeebled,
devitalized
in the sense of exasperate
Definition
to cause great irritation to
The constant interruptions were beginning to exasperate me.
Synonyms
irritate,
anger,
provoke,
annoy,
rouse,
infuriate,
hassle (informal),
exacerbate,
aggravate (informal),
incense,
enrage,
gall,
madden,
inflame,
bug (informal),
nettle,
get to (informal),
vex,
embitter,
irk,
rile (informal),
pique,
rankle,
peeve (informal),
needle (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
try the patience of,
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
get in your hair (informal),
get on your wick (British, slang),
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of exhausted
She was too exhausted even to think clearly.
Synonyms
worn out,
tired,
tired out,
drained,
spent,
beat (slang),
bushed (informal),
dead (informal),
wasted,
done in (informal),
weak,
all in (slang),
fatigued,
wiped out (informal),
sapped,
debilitated,
jaded,
knackered (slang),
prostrated,
clapped out (British, Australian, New Zealand, informal),
effete,
enfeebled,
enervated,
ready to drop,
dog-tired (informal),
zonked (slang),
dead tired,
dead beat (informal),
shagged out (British, slang),
fagged out (informal),
worn to a frazzle (informal),
on your last legs (informal),
creamcrackered (British, slang),
out on your feet (informal)
in the sense of fatigue
Definition
to make or become weary or exhausted
It fatigues me to list them all.
Synonyms
tire,
exhaust,
weaken,
weary,
drain,
fag (out) (informal),
whack (British, informal),
wear out,
jade,
take it out of (informal),
poop (informal),
tire out,
knacker (slang),
drain of energy,
overtire
in the sense of fatigued
How long have you been feeling fatigued?
Synonyms
tired,
exhausted,
weary,
tired out,
bushed (informal),
wasted,
all in (slang),
fagged (out) (informal),
whacked (British, informal),
jaded,
knackered (slang),
clapped out (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
overtired,
zonked (slang),
dead beat (informal),
jiggered (informal),
on your last legs,
creamcrackered (British, informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of irk
Definition
to irritate or vex
The rehearsal process irked him increasingly.
Synonyms
irritate,
annoy,
aggravate (informal),
provoke,
bug (informal),
put out (informal),
gall,
ruffle,
nettle,
vex,
rile,
peeve (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
miff (informal),
be on your back (slang),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
get in your hair (informal),
rub you up the wrong way (informal),
put your nose out of joint (informal),
get your back up,
put your back up,
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of irksome
Definition
annoying or tiresome
the irksome regulations
Synonyms
irritating,
trying,
annoying,
aggravating (informal),
troublesome,
unwelcome,
exasperating,
tiresome,
vexing,
disagreeable,
burdensome,
wearisome,
bothersome,
vexatious
in the sense of jaded
Definition
tired or bored from overindulgence or overwork
We had both become jaded, disinterested and disillusioned.
Synonyms
tired,
bored,
weary,
worn out,
done in (informal),
clapped out (British, Australian, New Zealand, informal),
spent,
drained,
exhausted,
shattered (informal),
dulled,
fatigued,
fed up,
wearied,
fagged (out) (informal),
sapped,
uninterested,
listless,
tired-out,
enervated,
zonked (slang),
over-tired,
ennuied,
hoha (New Zealand)
in the sense of knackered
Definition
extremely tired
I was absolutely knackered at the end of the match.
Synonyms
exhausted,
worn out,
tired out,
drained,
beat (slang),
done in (informal),
all in (slang),
buggered (British, slang),
debilitated,
prostrated,
enervated,
ready to drop,
dog-tired (informal),
zonked (slang),
dead tired,
dead beat (slang)
in the sense of laborious
Definition
involving great exertion or prolonged effort
Keeping the garden tidy all year round can be a laborious task.
Synonyms
hard,
difficult,
tiring,
exhausting,
wearing,
tough,
fatiguing,
uphill,
strenuous,
arduous,
tiresome,
onerous,
burdensome,
herculean,
wearisome,
backbreaking,
toilsome (literary)
in the sense of plague
Definition
to annoy or pester
I'm not going to plague you with a lot of questions.
Synonyms
pester,
trouble,
bother,
disturb,
annoy,
tease,
harry,
harass,
hassle,
fret,
badger,
persecute,
molest,
vex,
bedevil,
get on your nerves (informal),
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
be on your back (slang),
get in your hair (informal)
in the sense of sap
Definition
to weaken or exhaust the strength or confidence of
I was afraid the sickness had sapped my strength.
Synonyms
weaken,
drain,
undermine,
rob,
exhaust,
bleed (informal),
erode,
deplete,
wear down,
enervate,
devitalize
in the sense of sick
Definition
disgusted by or weary of
I am sick of hearing all these people moaning.
Synonyms
tired,
bored,
fed up,
weary,
glutted,
jaded,
blasé,
satiated
in the sense of sleepy
Definition
tired and ready for sleep
I was beginning to feel amazingly sleepy.
Synonyms
drowsy,
sluggish,
lethargic,
heavy,
dull,
inactive,
somnolent,
torpid,
slumbersome
in the sense of spent
Definition
used up or exhausted
After all that exertion, we were completely spent.
Synonyms
exhausted,
drained,
worn out,
bushed (informal),
all in (slang),
shattered (informal),
weakened,
wiped out (informal),
wearied,
weary,
played out (informal),
burnt out,
fagged (out) (informal),
whacked (British, informal),
debilitated,
knackered (slang),
prostrate,
clapped out (British, Australian, New Zealand, informal),