exhausting

American  

[ig-zaw-sting] / ɪgˈzɔ stɪŋ /

adjective

1. producing or tending to produce fatigue, weariness, or the like.

   an exhausting day; an exhausting child.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• exhaustingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of exhausting

First recorded in 1530–40; exhaust + -ing ²

Explanation

Something that's exhausting tires or fatigues you. An exhausting hike up the side of a mountain leaves you gasping for breath and so tired you need to sit down and rest. Some things, like a rigorous workout or a difficult type of manual labor, are physically exhausting. Others are mentally exhausting, like a long argument with a friend or a tricky calculus exam. The adjective exhausting is rooted in the Latin exhaurire, "draw off, take away, use up, or empty," which perfectly describes how you feel after an exhausting experience.

Example Sentences

For Scott, the journey from campaign launch to parliamentary debate has been a long and exhausting one, although one he could also not imagine abandoning.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

Some of the decline stems from people exhausting their benefits, but companies are hiring more workers and jobs have become a bit easier to find.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026

In recent months, the company has faced criticism from users complaining that they were exhausting their usage quotas too quickly and having to pay high prices to continue.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

Lately, it seems that Gyllenhaal’s been more interested in low-stakes roles, the kinds that come unburdened with Oscar buzz or exhausting promotional campaigns.

From Salon • May 27, 2026

After a time the hinge squeaked less frequently, then only rarely, or else, as his muscles hardened and his work grew correspondingly less exhausting, he slept more deeply and did not hear it.

From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Related Words

• debilitating
• draining
• taxing
• tiresome