wearisome
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /wˈeərisˌʌm/
US
- /ˈwɪrisəm/
Description
- tiring
- very dull
- draining
- hard to put up with
Imagine being stuck in a long meeting that seems to go on forever, or doing the same job again and again until you can barely stand it. That is the feeling behind "wearisome." It describes something that makes you feel tired, bored, or a little fed up because it goes on too long or takes too much out of you. A long, repetitive task can be wearisome, and so can a person who keeps complaining or making demands.
Wearisome things wear you down and make you want a break. The word is often used for tasks, journeys, routines, or behavior that feel tiring because they are long, repetitive, or difficult to deal with. It has a slightly literary tone, but the idea is simple: something that becomes tiring and unpleasant over time.
The word "wearisome" describes something that makes you feel tired because it goes on for too long, happens again and again, or is simply difficult to deal with. It can suggest physical tiredness, mental tiredness, or plain impatience. Very often, it points to the slow, dragging kind of tiredness that builds up over time.
A wearisome journey is not just long; it feels long in a tiring, discouraging way. A wearisome task is not only hard; it is often repetitive, dull, or slow. A wearisome person is someone whose behavior, complaints, or demands become tiring to listen to or deal with.
You can use the word for many kinds of situations: a wearisome wait at the airport, a wearisome argument that never seems to end, a wearisome set of chores, or a wearisome stretch of bad weather. In each case, the idea is the same. The thing is not just unpleasant for a moment; it keeps going until it starts to wear you down.
Historically, "wearisome" comes from an Old English form meaning "causing fatigue," and that basic meaning is still clear today. Compared with words like "tiring" or "tedious," "wearisome" often suggests both: something is dull or difficult, and because of that, it leaves you feeling worn out. It is a useful word for describing anything that becomes tiring through length, repetition, or ongoing strain.
Examples
- 1
Long speech
After the first hour, the speaker's long, repetitive talk became wearisome.
- 2
Daily commute
She found the daily train commute increasingly wearisome.
Pattern
find + thing + wearisome
think it is tiring and annoying
- 3
Project delays
The project was held up by wearisome delays and pointless meetings.
- 4
Complaints
His constant complaints were starting to sound wearisome.
- 5
Writing style
The novel is beautifully written, but the long descriptions can feel wearisome.
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- wearisomeadjective