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 Invesco QQQ Trust began to show signs of weariness last October, notably with a doji candle on Oct.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

There’s a resigned weariness in her voice when she says, “Then they realize we just don’t get the kind of foot traffic it takes to sustain those kinds of businesses, and it goes away.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

If there was a relieved tone to O'Neill afterwards, there was a weariness from the German.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026

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

Merely to be there was a cure for weariness, fear, and sadness.

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

Related Words

• boredom
• ennui
• fatigue