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
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 Their offerings are so vast that, at times, visitors may be fatigued. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 July 2026
Noun
The press had also waned, likely through fatigue, by the time a host of substitutions, including Mbeumo, Amad, and Zirkzee were made on the hour mark. — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026 Driving fatigue is very real, thanks to so many Mad Maxes riding bumpers or blowing through red lights or completely ignoring the speed limit. — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 13 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
  • Cue forward Josh Windass revealing on camera how James, as one of those who had worn the armband during the season, had approached him about setting up a meeting with just the players present.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Workers who spend hours outdoors, such as construction and farm workers, also commonly wear UPF clothing.
    — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of wear
Noun
  • Spouses, in turn, asked what was being done to address issues of mental health and exhaustion, MS NOW reported.
    — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In addition to the end of the capital expenditure boom that built these excess factories, the exhaustion of markets would create the conditions for a crisis.
    — Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of exhaustion
Noun
  • Albeit in an uncompetitive effort, the Falcons’ 27-7 loss to the Broncos in the preseason opener Friday night offered a glimpse at a vast majority of the team’s roster.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • General manager Omar Khan has made a concerted effort to build through the trenches on offense and defense.
    — Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 15 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
  • Charted out, the twin collapses of the income and inheritance taxes look like a roller coaster careening downhill, picking up speed toward and through the twenty-first century.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Cameron Brink injured in Sparks’ loss Sabrina Ionescu scored 20 points and the New York Liberty avoided one of the biggest collapses in WNBA history, holding off the Sparks 85-81 on Thursday night.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of collapse
Noun
  • The sales of these high-profile teams are becoming central to the ongoing labor dispute.
    — Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • July retail sales were the weakest since May 2025, while recent labor-market data has also pointed toward cooling conditions.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of labor
Verb
  • Last week, prosecutors attempted to use electronic materials to lay out their theory that Clancy premeditated killing her three children.
    — Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Police have said that’s exactly what Fernandez Saldana tried to do in hiring a man to shoot and kill Bridegan.
    — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of kill
Noun
  • Sleeping on your stomach or side presses your face into a pillowcase full of oil, sweat and product residue, which can clog pores, cause breakouts and eventually contribute to wrinkles.
    — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Even worse than high temperatures is high humidity, which prevents sweat from evaporating and cooling the body.
    — Scott McFetridge, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 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 21 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fatigue

Nglish: Translation of fatigue for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fatigue

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