weariness
C1Formal/Literary. Less common in casual speech than synonyms like 'tiredness' or 'fatigue'.
Definition
Meaning
a state of extreme tiredness and lack of energy, often after prolonged mental or physical effort.
A feeling of boredom, disinterest, or emotional exhaustion towards a situation, person, or routine due to prolonged exposure or repetition. Also, a state of world-weariness or spiritual fatigue.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an abstract noun denoting a state or feeling. Implies a deeper, more prolonged, and often more mental or emotional fatigue than 'tiredness'. Carries a nuance of being *caused by* something tedious, unpleasant, or long-lasting.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Slightly more literary/formal in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Weariness from/with/of [NOUN/V-ING] (e.g., weariness of the constant arguing)A feeling/sense of wearinessVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “War-weary (adj. derivative)”
- “To have weariness in one's bones”
- “A weariness of the soul/spirit”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
May describe employee burnout or fatigue with a long project: 'There was a palpable weariness in the team after the quarterly review marathon.'
Academic
Used in literary criticism, history, psychology: 'The novel explores the weariness of post-war society.'
Everyday
Used for emphasis in personal contexts: 'I felt a deep weariness just thinking about the commute.'
Technical
Rare. Could appear in ergonomics or occupational health contexts discussing chronic fatigue.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The relentless rain began to weary the residents.
- She wearied of his constant excuses.
American English
- The long campaign wearied the voters.
- He wearied of answering the same questions.
adverb
British English
- He shook his head wearily.
- She sank down wearily onto the bench.
American English
- He wearily rubbed his eyes.
- She smiled wearily at the compliment.
adjective
British English
- She gave a weary sigh.
- His weary expression said it all.
American English
- The weary travelers searched for a motel.
- He was weary from the long drive.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I feel weariness after school.
- His weariness was clear from the dark circles under his eyes.
- A profound weariness settled over her as she faced yet another deadline.
- The weariness engendered by the protracted negotiations threatened to undermine the diplomats' focus.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
WEAR-i-ness feels like your energy has been WORN down, as if you've been WEARing a heavy burden for too long.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEARINESS IS A HEAVY BURDEN / WEARINESS IS DEPLETION OF A RESOURCE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'усталость' for simple physical tiredness; 'weariness' is stronger/more specific. The Russian 'утомление' or 'истощение' (for stronger cases) are closer conceptually.
- Do not confuse with 'wear' (носить/изнашивать).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I have a weariness.' (Usually 'I feel weariness' or 'a feeling of weariness').
- Incorrect spelling: 'wearyness'. Correct: 'weariness'.
- Overuse for simple, short-term tiredness.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'weariness' most appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Tiredness' is a general state of needing rest. 'Weariness' implies a deeper fatigue, often mental or emotional, resulting from prolonged strain, boredom, or difficulty. It often carries a sense of being 'worn out' by something specific.
Not literally. It is a human/animal state. However, it can be used metaphorically in literary contexts (e.g., 'the weary old house seemed to sigh').
Yes, it inherently describes an undesirable state of depletion, fatigue, or boredom.
The related adjective is 'weary'. Example: 'a weary traveller'. The adverb is 'wearily'.