fatigue

[ fuh-teeg ]

/ fəˈtig /

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See synonyms for: fatigue / fatigued / fatigues / fatiguing on Thesaurus.com

noun

weariness from bodily or mental exertion.

a cause of weariness; slow ordeal; exertion: the fatigue of driving for many hours.

Physiology. temporary diminution of the irritability or functioning of organs, tissues, or cells after excessive exertion or stimulation.

Civil Engineering. the weakening or breakdown of material subjected to stress, especially a repeated series of stresses.

Also called fatigue duty .Military.

labor of a generally nonmilitary kind done by soldiers, such as cleaning up an area, digging drainage ditches, or raking leaves.
the state of being engaged in such labor: on fatigue.

fatigues, Military. fatigue clothes.

adjective

of or relating to fatigues or any clothing made to resemble them: The guerrilla band wore fatigue pants and field jackets. She brought fatigue shorts to wear on the hike.

verb (used with object), fa·tigued, fa·ti·guing.

to weary with bodily or mental exertion; exhaust the strength of: Endless chatter fatigues me.

Civil Engineering. to subject (a material) to fatigue.

verb (used without object), fa·tigued, fa·ti·guing.

to become fatigued.

Civil Engineering. (of a material) to undergo fatigue.

OTHER WORDS FOR fatigue

8 tire, debilitate, enervate.

See synonyms for fatigue on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of fatigue

1685–95; <French fatigue (noun), fatiguer (v.) <Latin fatīgāre to tire

OTHER WORDS FROM fatigue

fa·tigue·less, adjectivefa·ti·guing·ly, adverban·ti·fa·tigue, adjectiveun·fa·ti·guing, adjective

Words nearby fatigue

fathom, Fathometer, fathomless, fatidic, fatigable, fatigue, fatigue clothes, fatigued, fatigue life, fatigue limit, fatigue ratio

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fatigue in a sentence

It’s harder to maintain that work when crisis fatigue sets in, when the world moves on to the next major news event or catastrophe.
3 ways to make sure corporate diversity and inclusion efforts have a lasting impact|matthewheimer|August 31, 2020|Fortune
Getting the balance between fatigue and fitness right determines how fast you’ll race.
Stop Counting Your Running Mileage|Alex Hutchinson|August 28, 2020|Outside Online
This strategy increases visibility, as people notice a brand more when its ads appear on multiple devices and they seem familiar, plus you allow your audience to interact with your brand through their platform of choice and it prevents ad fatigue.
Five great display and video advertising tactics to increase relevance and revenue in a cookie-less world|Anastasia-Yvoni Spiliopoulou|August 24, 2020|Search Engine Watch
Notably, if you squeeze a piece of metal over and over, the material is going to fatigue.
The Shape-Shifting Squeeze Coolers|Marcus Woo|August 24, 2020|Quanta Magazine

For Abby Knowles, a headache and fatigue was just the start.
Why COVID-19 is both startlingly unique and painfully familiar|Aimee Cunningham|July 2, 2020|Science News
Both presidents fit the historical pattern of third-quarter voter fatigue.
Obama: Lamest Duck Ever?|Jonathan Alter|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fatigue, sadness, or psychosis is not about choice or laziness or selfishness.
Postpartum Stigma: Why My Patient Committed Suicide|Jean Kim|August 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With the Pentagon concerned about fatigue and morale, a lost piece of valuable property is the last thing these families need.
American G.I.s: Dude, Where’s My Car?|Tim Mak|July 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“If done chronically, it can lead to a suppressed immune system, chronic fatigue and memory issues,” he says.
Can Changing Time Zones Affect Your Health?|DailyBurn|June 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fatigue feels heavy, like I am trudging through life with a 300-pound man on my back.
YouTube’s Sleep Whisperers Are A Sexy Way To Combat Insomnia|Lizzie Crocker|May 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fatigue he never knew, and on one occasion he was said to have spent thirteen days and nights in the saddle.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
He soon experienced an unwonted sense of fatigue, then a drowsy sensation came over him.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
And in the midst of his speculations, overpowered by fatigue, he fell asleep, and ate his breakfast next morning very happily.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
(b) All those who are under 20 and more than 50 years of age, and who are strong enough to endure the fatigue of a campaign.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
The young apprentice was of middle height, very well built, amazingly active, and able to bear the utmost fatigue.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison

British Dictionary definitions for fatigue

fatigue

/ (fəˈtiːɡ) /

noun

physical or mental exhaustion due to exertion

a tiring activity or effort

physiol the temporary inability of an organ or part to respond to a stimulus because of overactivity

the progressive cracking of a material subjected to alternating stresses, esp vibrations

the temporary inability to respond to a situation or perform a function, because of overexposure or overactivitycompassion fatigue

any of the mainly domestic duties performed by military personnel, esp as a punishment
(as modifier)fatigue duties

(plural) special clothing worn by military personnel to carry out such duties

verb -tigues, -tiguing or -tigued

to make or become weary or exhausted

to crack or break (a material or part) by inducing fluctuating stresses in it, or (of a metal or part) to become weakened or fail as a result of fluctuating stresses

Derived forms of fatigue

fatigable (ˈfætɪɡəbəl), adjectivefatigueless, adjective

Word Origin for fatigue

C17: from French, from fatiguer to tire, from Latin fatīgāre

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

fatigue

OTHER WORDS FOR fatigue

Origin of fatigue

OTHER WORDS FROM fatigue

Words nearby fatigue

Words related to fatigue

How to use fatigue in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fatigue

Derived forms of fatigue

Word Origin for fatigue