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mental fatigue

mental fatigue

1 4.4
A feeling of being tired after long thinking or stress
  • noun
  • /ˈmɛntəl fəˈtiɡ/
translation icon : fatiga mental
  • After several hours of studying for the exam, she felt a wave of mental fatigue wash over her.
  • physical and mental fatigue

And sometimes this is also related to mental fatigue.

Examples

  • In individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), studies have shown that reports of mental fatigue predict impairment in spatial working memory and sustained attention (Capuron et al., 2006).

    Academic text (2014)
  • The long hours of focus led to mental fatigue, making it hard for him to concentrate on his tasks.

  • The experience of combat also brings with it intense physical and mental fatigue.

    Academic text (2002)
  • It just increases mental fatigue.

    Academic text (1994)
  • This is coming from someone who spent 2 years with mental fatigue, so I've come out of it with a few tips.

    Blog text (21)
  • All great sportsmen undergo mental fatigue once in a while.

  • Body and mental fatigue can trigger anxiety in anyone, especially those who have quite weak personalities.

    Blog text (31)
  • These techniques stimulate creative insights even when administrators are struggling for ideas because of mental fatigue, work stress, or other reasons.

    Academic text (2001)
  • By the end of the week, my body was completely exhausted—not because of any physical exertion, just mental fatigue.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Heat play-by-play announcer Eric Reid pointed out that sometimes it's not the physical fatigue that gets to players on a long road trip, but the mental fatigue.

    Blog text (33)

Synonyms

fatigue
vsmental fatigue
92 4.2

A feeling of tiredness and low energy after hard work

is more specific to long mental effort rather than any hard work
exhaustion
vsmental fatigue
78 3.6

Extreme physical or mental tiredness after hard work

is limited to energy loss caused mainly by prolonged mental effort
weariness
vsmental fatigue
20 3.1

A strong feeling of being very tired in body or mind

is specifically about ongoing mental effort rather than any hard work
burnout
vsmental fatigue
19 4.1

A state of extreme tiredness from too much work or stress

is a shorter, less chronic state caused by mental effort
lethargy
vsmental fatigue
12 6.3

A feeling of tiredness and low energy

relates to low energy from long mental effort rather than illness linked inactivity
tiredness
vsmental fatigue
10 1.0

A feeling of not having energy after physical or mental work

is more tied to prolonged mental effort rather than brief energy loss
frazzle
vsmental fatigue
  • Informal
1 7.4

A state of being very tired in body or mind

is similar but described more neutrally and clinically
nervous exhaustion
vsmental fatigue
  • Archaic
1 7.4

Extreme mental and physical tiredness after long stress or worry

is similar but normally without strong emotional breakdown or physical symptoms
mental exhaustion
vsmental fatigue
1 6.0

A very tired mind after long thinking or a lot of stress

is less intense and focuses on general mental wear from effort
enervation
vsmental fatigue
9.1

A feeling of great weakness and tiredness

focuses on weakness caused by sustained mental strain
overtiredness
vsmental fatigue
4.9

Being very tired so you cannot sleep and feel restless or easily annoyed

is centred on mental effort rather than sleep-related overfatigue

Antonyms

7 6.0

Clear thinking or speech that is easy to understand

Quick, clear thinking that helps you understand and decide

How Tired

burnout
19 4.1
exhaustion
78 3.6
mental fatigue
1 4.4
tiredness
10 1.0
alertness
14 2.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

mental + fatigue

The meaning 'a state of exhaustion caused by prolonged mental effort or stress' is directly and compositionally derived from 'mental' (relating to cognition) + 'fatigue' (exhaustion). This adjective+noun combination follows a common, transparent formation found across languages and would be readily understood by a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Mental fatigue combines mental (the mind) with fatigue (strong tiredness). Imagine your brain like a muscle that wears out after long thinking or stress — that's why it means 'feeling very tired in the mind'.