world weary

A form of world-weary — Tired of the ways of the world; feeling apathetic or cynical due to one's life experiences.

Meanings

adjectiveworld weary (comparative world wearier or more world weary, superlative world weariest or most world weary)

comparative world wearier · comparative more world weary · superlative world weariest · superlative most world weary

  1. alternativeAlternative form of world-weary.

    Till you ſhall bid this ſad, world weary ſpirit, / To peaceful regions wing her weary flight.

    1770, [Francis Gentleman], “Zenobia. A Tragedy. Anonymous.”, in The Dramatic Censor; or, Critical Companion, volume I, London: J[ohn] Bell, […]; York, Yorkshire: C. Etherington, […], →OCLC, page 401
    3 more examples

    The drill sergeants are the world weariest of soldiers; and now, goddamit, they have to teach 'girls', no bigger than their kid sisters.

    1988, The Geographical Magazine, volume 60, London: Geographical Press, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 72

    Consider this commentary from a world weary poet, Emily Brontë, a contemporary of [Arthur] Schopenhauer, from "I Am the Only Being" (17th May 1839): 'Twas grief enough to think mankind All hollow, servile, insincere; But worse to turn to my own mind, And find the same corruption there.

    2010, Courtland Lewis, Paula Smithka, Doctor Who and Philosophy: Bigger on the Inside, →ISBN, page 262

    One of the problems we have with spirits that make the transition who are not spiritually aware and who have not rediscovered their nature is that they are so very, very sad and world weary.

    2013, Michael G. Reccia, The Joseph Communications: Your Life after Death, →ISBN
Cite this entry
APA

world weary. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/world%20weary

MLA

“world weary.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/world%20weary. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “world weary,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/world%20weary.

Source: world weary on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.