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. )

Example Sentences

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

I lay down, tucking myself into the covers as a bone-tired weariness washed over me.

From Literature

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

From BBC

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

From Barron's

Staggering now with weariness, he collected some stones and put them in the ashes, then laid over them the two torches he and Jonn had carried through the Mountain.

From Literature

Related Words

• boredom
• ennui
• fatigue