fatigue 1 of 2

verb

Definition of fatiguenext
as in to wear
to use up all the physical energy of the rescue workers pressed on, though their efforts to reach the miners had almost completely fatigued them

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fatigue

2 of 2

noun

fə-ˈtēg How to pronounce fatigue (audio)
1
as in exhaustion
a complete depletion of energy or strength the day-long battle against the blaze left firefighters in a state of utter fatigue

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in effort
very hard or unpleasant work although he had joined the army for action and adventure, much of his day seemed to be devoted to mindless fatigues

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fatigue distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of fatigue are exhaust, jade, tire, and weary. While all these words mean "to make or become unable or unwilling to continue," fatigue suggests great lassitude from excessive strain or undue effort.

fatigued by the day's chores

When can exhaust be used instead of fatigue?

While in some cases nearly identical to fatigue, exhaust implies complete draining of strength by hard exertion.

shoveling snow exhausted him

When could jade be used to replace fatigue?

The words jade and fatigue can be used in similar contexts, but jade suggests the loss of all freshness and eagerness.

appetites jaded by overindulgence

When is tire a more appropriate choice than fatigue?

Although the words tire and fatigue have much in common, tire implies a draining of one's strength or patience.

the long ride tired us out

When might weary be a better fit than fatigue?

While the synonyms weary and fatigue are close in meaning, weary stresses tiring until one is unable to endure more of the same thing.

wearied of the constant arguing

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fatigue
Verb
But on the other end of the spectrum, the report suggests some daters are feeling fatigued by unmet expectations and difficulty finding meaningful connections. — Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 20 July 2026 Feeling fatigued by the fashion world, Suea later took a corporate job in the pandemic as a creative producer at Instagram. — Violet Conroy, Vogue, 15 July 2026
Noun
Shingles, which can cause painful rashes, fever, chills, headaches and fatigue, can be prevented by getting the two-dose vaccine, which is about 90% effective in the elderly. — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 The inclement weather conditions and fatigue combined with the altitude sickness that could set in at that height are a bad combination for even the most experienced hikers. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fatigue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fatigue
  1. wear
  2. exhaustion
  3. effort
  4. tire
  5. collapse
  6. labor
  7. kill
  8. sweat
Verb
  • Wear it with leggings for a travel outfit that feels a little more elevated than wearing a sweatsuit.
    — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026
  • All the guests at Bozoma Saint-John Watson's wedding to Keely Watson were asked to wear authentic Kente cloth attire.
    — Rebecca Suhrawardi, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of wear
Noun
  • Economic exhaustion and an atmosphere of fear have left virtually no part of Iranian existence untouched.
    — Greg Dixon, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
  • That means, for example, Jason and Lucia can gain or lose weight, build muscle and incur physical markers of exhaustion.
    — Angela Yang, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of exhaustion
Noun
  • Its architecture could contribute to future efforts involving inexpensive rockets produced in much larger quantities.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Poor Anton has been left out of the drama all day, an effort by Billie and Samir to prevent an already bad futzing from escalating to something severe, and that’s never where Anton likes to be.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of effort
Verb
  • In other words, an evening session does not just tire you out.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 23, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
  • The game slows not only because bodies tire more quickly, but because players begin pacing themselves earlier — conserving energy for the moments that matter most.
    — Alan McCall, New York Times, 11 July 2026
Definition of tire
Noun
  • Escaping an energy collapse Things didn’t collapse as analysts feared at the beginning of the conflict.
    — Katie Silver, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The letter provides the most complete window into Kapoor’s thinking since the collapse of his company, Location Ventures, three years ago.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of collapse
Noun
  • Assertive Mars clashes with your ruler Saturn, highlighting tension around your home, family, or the amount of emotional labor each person carries.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Shipbuilding used to mean months of labor, custom wooden frames, and massive upfront tooling costs.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of labor
Verb
  • The portable machine uses pulses of full-spectrum ultraviolet light to kill infectious germs inside hospital rooms.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Clancy is a Massachusetts woman who has been on trial for killing her three children and attempting to take her own life in 2023.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of kill
Noun
  • My usual deodorant has stopped working, and my sweat suddenly smells different or much stronger than before.
    — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 1 Sep. 2026
  • This 45 percent-off unisex sweatshirt is a great outer layer paired with a $13 tank that is both durable and sweat-wicking.
    — Taylor Fox, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of sweat

Browse Nearby Words

fathoms
fatigue
fatigued
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Cite this Entry

“Fatigue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fatigue. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fatigue

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fatigue

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