exhaustion

noun

ex·​haus·​tion ig-ˈzȯs-chən How to pronounce exhaustion (audio)
: the act or process of exhausting : the state of being exhausted

Examples of exhaustion in a Sentence

He worked to the point of complete exhaustion. the exhaustion of our natural resources
Recent Examples on the Web It can be characterized by three dimensions: feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance and avoidance from one’s responsibilities, or feelings of negativism, cynicism, and despair. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 4 Mar. 2024 In that moment, my frustration and exhaustion were immediately replaced by elation. Joshua Mezrich, STAT, 2 Mar. 2024 Underlining the joy of the day was exhaustion from the long and trying journey that led up to it, a saga of desperate relatives navigating a mental health system bedeviled by roadblocks and inconsistencies and, at key moments, brightened by dedicated public servants. Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 At the end of the trial, employees reported enjoying better physical and mental health, greater work-life balance and general life satisfaction, and less exhaustion from work — and these improvements have been maintained one year on. Olesya Dmitracova, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024 The study found that folks in the COVID group were also 4.3 times more likely to develop chronic fatigue—enduring exhaustion, in simplest terms—than those in the control group. Korin Miller, SELF, 20 Feb. 2024 But Russian assaults there have faded in recent weeks amid exhaustion, a shortage of troops, and Ukrainian strikes on command posts and military-supply depots. Omar Rodríguez Ortiz, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2024 Understanding the fatigue The study also delves into how dysfunction in the brain and nervous system can help explain cognitive and physical symptoms, including exhaustion. Will Stone, NPR, 23 Feb. 2024 This year, anti-Trump voters are grappling with another powerful sentiment: exhaustion. Katie Glueck, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exhaustion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of exhaustion was in 1615

Dictionary Entries Near exhaustion

Cite this Entry

“Exhaustion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhaustion. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

exhaustion

noun
ex·​haus·​tion ig-ˈzȯs-chən How to pronounce exhaustion (audio)
1
: the act of exhausting
2
: the state of being exhausted

Medical Definition

exhaustion

noun
ex·​haus·​tion ig-ˈzȯs-chən How to pronounce exhaustion (audio)
1
: the act or process of exhausting : the state of being exhausted
suffered from physical and mental exhaustion
see heat exhaustion
2
: neurosis following overstrain or overexertion especially in military combat

Legal Definition

exhaustion

noun
ex·​haus·​tion
: the act or process of exhausting
even after the exhaustion of direct appellate reviewW. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel
specifically : exhaustion of remedies

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