Exhausting: meaning, definitions and examples

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exhausting

 

[ ɪɡˈzɔːstɪŋ ]

Adjective / Verb
Context #1 | Adjective

feeling or causing extreme tiredness

Causing someone to feel extremely tired or lacking energy. Something that is exhausting consumes a lot of physical or mental effort. It can leave a person drained and fatigued.

Synonyms

draining, fatiguing, taxing, tiring, wearying.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
exhausting

Used when an activity leaves someone completely out of energy and extremely tired, often physically.

  • Running a marathon is exhausting.
  • Dealing with all these problems at work can be exhausting.
tiring

Generally refers to something that makes someone feel tired. It is less intense than 'exhausting'.

  • It's tiring to lift heavy boxes all day.
  • The long meeting was really tiring.
draining

Refers to situations or activities that deplete someone’s physical, mental, or emotional energy gradually.

  • Handling constant arguments can be emotionally draining.
  • Taking care of a newborn baby can be very draining.
wearying

Used to describe activities that progressively induce weariness, often due to monotony or repetitive nature.

  • Listening to tedious lectures can be wearying.
  • Her constant complaints are wearying.
fatiguing

Describes activities that cause physical or mental weariness over time. This term is often used in medical or technical contexts.

  • Working long hours in front of a computer screen can be fatiguing.
  • The constant noise made the environment fatiguing.
taxing

Applied to tasks or situations that require significant effort or stamina and are challenging to manage.

  • Balancing work and study is quite taxing.
  • His new project is mentally taxing.

Examples of usage

  • It was an exhausting day at work.
  • The long hike was exhausting, but worth it.
  • She found the constant noise of the city exhausting.
  • The exhausting workout left him sore for days.
  • The exhausting heat made it hard to concentrate.
Context #2 | Verb

making someone feel extremely tired

To make someone feel extremely tired or lacking energy. When something exhausts a person, it drains their physical or mental resources.

Synonyms

deplete, drain, fatigue, sap, weary.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
exhausting

Used to describe something that is very tiring or demanding, often physically.

  • Running a marathon was exhausting.
  • The long meeting was exhausting for everyone.
weary

Used to describe being physically or mentally tired, often due to continuous effort or lack of rest.

  • She felt weary after working late all week.
  • The weary traveler finally arrived at the hotel.
fatigue

Used when referring to extreme tiredness resulting from physical or mental exertion.

  • After the long hike, I was overcome with fatigue.
  • Fatigue set in after hours of studying.
drain

Used to describe the gradual removal or reduction of energy, resources, or vitality, with a slightly negative connotation.

  • That tedious project really drained my energy.
  • Constant worry can drain your mental strength.
deplete

Used when resources or supplies are reduced over time, often due to use or consumption.

  • Continuous fishing has depleted the fish population.
  • The long journey has depleted our food supplies.
sap

Used to describe the gradual weakening or draining of strength or energy, often over a prolonged period.

  • The illness sapped his strength.
  • Long hours of work can sap your motivation.

Examples of usage

  • The long hours of work exhausted him.
  • The constant demands of the job can be exhausting.
  • She was exhausted after running the marathon.
  • The emotional toll of the situation exhausted her.
  • The rigorous training program exhausted the athletes.

Translations

Translations of the word "exhausting" in other languages:

🇵🇹 exaustivo

🇮🇳 थकाऊ

🇩🇪 erschöpfend

🇮🇩 melelahkan

🇺🇦 виснажливий

🇵🇱 wyczerpujący

🇯🇵 疲れさせる

🇫🇷 épuisant

🇪🇸 agotador

🇹🇷 yorucu

🇰🇷 지치게 하는

🇸🇦 مرهق

🇨🇿 vyčerpávající

🇸🇰 vyčerpávajúci

🇨🇳 令人疲惫的

🇸🇮 izčrpavajoč

🇮🇸 þreytandi

🇰🇿 шаршататын

🇬🇪 დამღლელი

🇦🇿 yorucu

🇲🇽 agotador

Etymology

The word 'exhausting' comes from the verb 'exhaust', which originated from the Latin word 'exhaustus', past participle of 'exhaurire' meaning 'to draw out or drain'. The concept of exhaustion has been linked to the idea of complete consumption or depletion of energy or resources, leading to extreme tiredness. Over time, 'exhausting' evolved to describe activities or situations that cause extreme fatigue or weariness.

See also: exhaust, exhausted, exhaustible, exhaustion, exhaustively, exhaustiveness, inexhaustible.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #13,447, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.