weary

American  

[weer-ee] / ˈwɪər i /

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

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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 British  

/ 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

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verb

1. to make or become weary

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

Related Words

See tired ¹.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of weary

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

Example Sentences

While strong stock and real-estate portfolios have allowed high-income Americans to keep spending, many consumers further down the income ladder—weary from years of high inflation—are anxious about their jobs and incomes.

From The Wall Street Journal

Dr. Muhsen Abdullah, the surgeon who heads the emergency room, spoke with a weary tone of a ward without surgical thread or stitches, and anesthesiologists forced to ask patients to purchase their own anesthetic.

From Los Angeles Times

When he explained everything to us in the car, Dad had sounded weary, like he wasn’t positive Mom was innocent.

From Literature

"But still, I grow weary. I am tired of your childishness. I will tell you what you need to know. As far as I am able. Wait."

From Literature

He tried three more times, but she was too heavy, and he was too weary.

From Literature

Related Words

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