Synonyms of burned-out
1
: worn-out
also : exhausted
2
: destroyed by fire
a burned-out building
1
: the cessation of operation usually of a jet or rocket engine
also : the point at which burnout occurs
2
a
: exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration
b
: a person suffering from burnout
3
: a person showing the effects of drug abuse

burn out

3 of 3

verb

burned out or burnt out; burning out; burns out

transitive verb

1
: to drive out or destroy the property of by fire
2
: to cause to fail, wear out, or become exhausted especially from overwork or overuse

intransitive verb

: to suffer burnout

Examples of burned-out in a Sentence

Adjective I'm feeling so burned-out that I can't wait for vacation Noun Teaching can be very stressful, and many teachers eventually suffer burnout. the burnout rate among teachers a novel about academic burnouts Verb working 12-hour days at that job just burned me out
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The burned-out, rusty remnants of a walk-in vault squat in the center of the structure. Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026 Fear challenged that faith as the family walked past more corpses and burned-out houses. Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
This most definitely can lead to burnout and decision fatigue. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 How should organizations evaluate whether a four-day workweek will work for their specific business model without harming performance, customer service, or employee burnout? Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Verb
She's burned out and she's had it as well. Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 20 June 2026 If your child has too much on their plate, parents should compromise on ways to cut back to avoid stress and burn out. Anna Earl, Parents, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for burned-out

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1816, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1710, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of burned-out was in 1710

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Burned-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burned-out. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

burned-out

adjective
ˈbərnd-ˈau̇t
ˈbərnt-
variants or burnt-out
ˈbərnt-
1
2
: destroyed by fire
a burned-out building
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