weary

[weer-ee]

adjective

wearier, weariest 

1. physically or mentally exhausted by hard work, exertion, strain, etc.; fatigued; tired.

   weary eyes;

   a weary brain.

   Synonyms: worn-out, spent
   Antonyms: energetic

2. characterized by or causing fatigue.

   a weary journey.

3. impatient or dissatisfied with something (often followed byof ).

   weary of excuses.

4. characterized by or causing impatience or dissatisfaction; tedious; irksome.

   a weary wait.

   Synonyms: wearisome, tiresome
   Antonyms: interesting

verb (used with or without object)

wearied, wearying 

1. to make or become weary; fatigue or tire.

   The long hours of work have wearied me.

   Synonyms: exhaust

2. to make or grow impatient or dissatisfied with something or at having too much of something (often followed byof ).

   The long drive had wearied us of desert scenery.

   We had quickly wearied at such witless entertainment.

   Synonyms: jade, irk
   Antonyms: interest

weary

/ ˈwɪərɪ /

adjective

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

verb

1. to make or become weary

2. to make or become discontented or impatient, esp by the long continuance of something

Other Word Forms

• wearily adverb
• weariness noun
• wearyingly adverb
• outweary verb (used with object)
• self-weary adjective
• unweary adjective
• unwearying adjective
• wearying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of weary¹

First recorded before 900; (adjective) Middle English wery, Old English wērig; cognate with Old Saxon -wōrig; akin to Old English wōrian “to crumble, break down, totter”; (verb) Middle English werien, Old English wēr(i)gian, derivative of the adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of weary¹

Old English wērig; related to Old Saxon wōrig, Old High German wuorag drunk, Greek hōrakian to faint

Synonym Study

See tired ¹.

Example Sentences

Altadena residents who were fully committed to rebuilding in the immediate aftermath of destruction are now rethinking it, having grown weary of the slog.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

People who were fully committed to rebuilding in the immediate aftermath of destruction are now rethinking it, having grown weary of the slog.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It was an observation some within Labour are weary of hearing about again, recalling the fuss a decade ago when Labour had mugs printed with the promise of "controls on immigration".

Read more on BBC

He immediately came under fire within Israel, with opposition leader Yair Lapid writing: "Today saw a weary and whining Israeli prime minister, in a speech overloaded with overused gimmicks"

Read more on BBC

The cutesy performance shtick around a shoestring variety show — imagine Pee-wee’s Playhouse without the bewitching oddity — grows wearying.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• annoy 
• bore 
• depress 
• dishearten 
• exasperate 
• exhaust 
• fade 
• irk 
• tire