weary

[weer-ee]

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

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

/ 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

verb

1. to make or become weary

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of weary¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of weary¹

Old English wērig; related to Old Saxon wōrig, Old High German wuorag drunk, Greek hōrakian to faint

Synonym Study

See tired ¹.

Example Sentences

The Federal Reserve cut rates by a quarter-point this week, but investors grew weary after Chair Jerome Powell cast doubts about whether there would be another rate cut in December.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Zuckerberg remains a bold CEO who thinks the spending is necessary to keep Meta on top in a rapidly shifting landscape, but investors are growing weary of the hit to income.

Read more on Barron's

But pay-TV providers such as YouTube have pushed back, attempting to draw a line as customers grow weary of ever-increasing monthly bills.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Trade tensions with the West and economic concerns have made consumers weary, while automakers have also had to contend with a long-running price war among domestic manufacturers as they vie for customers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A younger generation of Nagas, weary of blockades and extortion, now increasingly seeks peace and economic stability.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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