weariness

[ weer-ee-nis ]

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.

Other Words From

• self-wea·ri·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of weariness¹

weary ( def ) + -ness ( def )

Example Sentences

The Dodgers’ hopes went downhill from there, thanks to a sudden weariness in pitcher Jack Flaherty’s right arm.

From Los Angeles Times

Though court packing has been a topic of discussion for years, Wyden’s bill is the first to propose an expansion since President Joe Biden signaled his weariness with the court's direction.

From Salon

She looked reasonably healthy for someone who’d spent years on the street, but there was a mix of weariness and sadness in her eyes.

From Los Angeles Times

But that resulted largely from public fury over the Johnson administration’s waging of the Vietnam War and weariness with civil unrest.

From Los Angeles Times

It was, Palumbo said with wry weariness, “a bit of a crazy time.”

From New York Times

Related Words

• boredom
• ennui
• fatigue