weariness

American  

[weer-ee-nis] / ˈwɪər i nɪs /

noun

1. the state or condition of being physically or mentally exhausted by hard work, exertion, strain, etc.; tiredness; fatigue.

   Weariness, pain, and hunger made the wretched man fall asleep, and he slept the whole night.

2. impatience or dissatisfaction with something tedious or burdensome (often used in combination).

   The people have begun to show a war-weariness and apathy brought on by the long, brutal struggle for independence.

   At 50, the singer still has boyish charm with none of the weariness of life—he’s curious, passionate, and engaged.

3. the quality of causing such fatigue or dissatisfaction; a tiring or tedious quality.

   The summer heat only heightened the weariness of their journey.

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Other Word Forms

• self-weariness noun

Etymology

Origin of weariness

weary ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Explanation

Weariness is a temporary feeling of low energy and tiredness. Most people feel weariness after a long day of work. Marathons, babysitting small children, standardized tests, and getting old can also cause weariness. When you're weary, you're tired. Put a –ness at the end of the word to make a noun, and viola! weariness is the condition of feeling tired or fatigued. In fact, the familiar French loan word fatigue means “weariness.” Physical work (like helping someone move) or mental work (like reading a difficult book) can make you experience weariness. If a busy schedule is making you feel a general sense of weariness, it’s time for a vacation.

Example Sentences

The town was quiet early Friday and residents have voiced weariness over the influx of media attention following the tragedy.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

"Citizens also perceive that tension in the public debate causes weariness, disenchantment and disaffection," Felipe said in his traditional address to the nation from Madrid's Royal Palace.

From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025

Her voice breaks and cracks with weariness on lines such as “Oh my God, do I try/I try all the time/In this institution,” as if the oppression might break her.

From Salon • May 26, 2025

Clarke has shown a fantastic capacity to recover from setbacks and there's reason to believe in his ability to do the same again now, but there was a weariness at Hampden.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2025

Aragorn let them drift with the stream as they wished, husbanding their strength against weariness to come.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Related Words

• boredom
• ennui
• fatigue