Another word for tired
The best other words for tired are weary, weary of, shopworn and sleepy.
- Most formal
- banal, weary, spent
- Strongest
- exhausted, spent, fatigued
- Casual
- beat, done in, fed up
- Instead of “really tired”
- exhausted, drained, worn out
Tired /ˈtaɪərd/ (adjective): Feeling a need for rest or sleep, or lacking energy because of effort, stress, or overuse. In simple words: Feeling like you need rest, or no longer interested, or used too much. Below are 19 rated synonyms across 3 senses, plus 26 more related words. Tap a chip for its nuance and an example.
19 synonyms shown
Sleepy exhausted · adjective
needing rest or sleep
Bored of · adjective
fed up because something has become dull or repetitive
Overused stale · adjective
no longer fresh, effective, or appealing
Find the right strength and register
Drag the amber target to how strong and how formal you need the word to be. The three closest synonyms light up.
You asked for: equal strength, neutral register
- sleepy — more about drowsiness than depletion
- weary — formal, suggests persistent fatigue
- spent — formal, emphasizes energy fully used up
The dashed ring marks “tired” itself: neutral strength, neutral register.
Synonyms for tired in your sentence
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How to choose
Choose the synonym that matches the cause of the tiredness: use sleepy or tired for needing rest, exhausted or spent for stronger physical depletion, and bored, fed up, or weary of for emotional or mental fatigue. For writing, weary, fatigued, hackneyed, and banal sound more formal than everyday tired.
Antonyms of tired
- rested
- refreshed
- energetic
- alert
- wide-awake
- enthusiastic
- fresh
- stimulated
All synonyms at a glance
| Synonym | Strength | Formality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| sleepy | 2/5 | neutral | casual, business |
| weary | 3/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| exhausted | 5/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| spent | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| fatigued | 4/5 | formal | academic, business |
| beat | 4/5 | casual | casual |
| done in | 4/5 | casual | casual |
| bored | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| fed up | 4/5 | casual | casual, business |
| sick of | 4/5 | casual | casual |
| bored stiff | 4/5 | casual | casual |
| weary of | 3/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| jaded | 4/5 | formal | academic, creative, business |
| stale | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| hackneyed | 4/5 | formal | academic, creative |
| trite | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| banal | 4/5 | academic | academic, creative |
| shopworn | 3/5 | formal | business, creative |
| overused | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
Instead of “very tired”
One precise word usually beats an intensifier. See the full words instead of “very” list.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| really tired | exhausted, drained, worn out |
| a little tired | sleepy, weary, drowsy |
| tired of | fed up with, sick of, bored by |
More words related to tired
Looser matches and phrases, unrated. Check the sense before you swap one in, or compare it with “tired”.
- run down
- knackered
- drowsy
- somnolent
- dull
- listless
- apathetic
- uninterested
- disenchanted
- indifferent
- tuckered out
- pooped
- dead on one's feet
- drained
- worn out
- overdone
- clichéd
- platitudinous
- predictable
- threadbare
- used up
- weathered
- battered
- dog-eared
- old hat
- the same old thing
Questions about synonyms for tired
What is the most formal or academic synonym for tired?
Fatigued is the most neutral formal choice for physical tiredness, especially in medical or academic writing. For mental or emotional weariness, weary can sound more literary or formal, but it is less clinical.
What is a stronger synonym than tired?
Exhausted is stronger than tired and suggests a much deeper lack of energy. Spent and done in are also strong, but they are more informal and conversational.
What is a milder synonym than tired?
Sleepy is usually milder than tired and points more specifically to drowsiness. It works best when the person mainly needs sleep rather than being fully drained.
What can I say instead of tired when I mean I need sleep?
You can say sleepy, drowsy, or run down if you need rest. If you mean very tired, words like drained or worn out sound natural.
What can I say instead of tired when I mean bored of something?
You can say bored with, fed up with, or sick of. If something feels old or unoriginal, you might also say stale or overused.