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

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

Even alongside George Clooney, playing the aging screen icon of the title, and Adam Sandler as Kelly’s weary confidant and manager, it’s Crudup’s brief but blistering appearance that cuts the deepest.

From Los Angeles Times

“This phone,” he said with a weary sigh, “never stops ringing.”

From Los Angeles Times

Acquaroli, quietly astonishing, brings humanity and the merest touch of weary humor to his stubborn policeman.

From Los Angeles Times

They first halted India's momentum, then punished a weary attack in conditions better for batting than any other time in the match.

From BBC

The weather, weary bodies and injuries that forced both teams into four changes apiece contributed to an odd spectacle.

From BBC

Related Words

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