Skip to main content
careworn

careworn

1 7.7
Having a tired, worried face after a long time of worry or too much work
  • adjective
  • /ˈkɛrˌwɔrn/
translation icon : cansado
  • After many sleepless nights, her careworn appearance showed the strain of her worries.
  • careworn face
  • looked careworn
  • more careworn

Examples

  • In another booth, a careworn but striking woman sits with a little boy on her lap.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Flying in for visits and crisis management, she doesn't look nearly careworn and frazzled enough.

    Blog text (4)
  • Jean's dressed well, but looks even more careworn than usual.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The President, bowed in the window, is careworn, a thousand years old.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Her face is prematurely careworn but attractive.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Her face is careworn.

  • The old stableman's face was gray and careworn, and he seemed older than Lucian remembered.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • He'd seen their worn-out winter coats and lean, careworn faces.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Following this observation, the young man related the story of a careworn, anxious merchant weighed down by debt and constantly hounded by creditors.

    Academic text (2005)
  • This person, unlike the scientist in his initial interview with Wolfe, was no longer careworn and stooped from exhaustion and depression.

    Fiction book (1999)

Synonyms

overworked
vscareworn
23 3.5

To work too much and feel very tired or stressed

is tired and anxious from worry or overwork and shows visible worry signs
haggard
vscareworn
12 7.0

Looking very tired and pale from worry, illness, or lack of food

is tired and anxious from worry or overwork rather than extreme paleness
overtired
vscareworn
2 3.4

Too sleepy to relax or fall asleep

is tired and anxious from worry or overwork rather than pure sleepiness
overstressed
vscareworn
2 5.1

Feeling too much stress and unable to cope

is tired and anxious from worry or overwork rather than only feeling overwhelmed
worn
vscareworn
2 2.8

Looking very tired because of too much work or worry

is tired and anxious from worry or overwork rather than general hardship
woebegone
vscareworn
  • Literature
1 9.6

Looking very sad and worn out

is tired and anxious from worry or overwork rather than mainly sad
drawn
vscareworn
4.9

A face that looks tired, pale, and worried

is tired and anxious from worry or overwork rather than only face tension
raddled
vscareworn
  • UK
9.9

Looking worn and tired from long hard times

is tired and anxious from worry or overwork rather than merely untidiness
overworn
vscareworn
6.1

Very tired because of too much work or travel

is tired and anxious from worry or overwork rather than only extreme exhaustion
care-laden
vscareworn
  • Literature
8.6

Full of worry and sadness because of problems

is tired and anxious from worry or overwork while showing visible tiredness

Antonyms

241 1.0

Calm and not worried

41 2.9

Not feeling worried or responsible

How Worn

exhausted
104 2.0
drained
3.4
careworn
1 7.7
weary
129 3.2
tired
1.0

Surface Forms

careworn positive

Morphology

careworn = care + worn (transparent) = care + worn

A clear combination of 'care' + 'worn' meaning 'worn by care', which learners who know both words can readily infer.

Etymology

Careworn comes from care (meaning 'worry') plus worn, as in clothes that are 'worn out'. So a careworn person looks tired or 'worn down' because worry has worn them away.