Key Difference – Tired vs Exhausted
Tired and exhausted are two adjectives derived from the verbs tire and exhaust, respectively. The difference between tired and exhausted depends on the degree of weariness or tiredness. The adjective tired implies that a person is in need of rest. Exhausted is the extreme version of tired. Exhausted implies that a person is extremely tired or weary. Thus, the difference between tired and exhausted lies on the degree of tiredness.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What Does Tired Mean
3. What Does Exhausted Mean
4. Side by Side Comparison – Tired vs Exhausted
5. Summary
What Does Tired Mean?
Tired is an adjective that originates from the verb tire. When you have lost your energy or strength, you will feel tired. When you are tired, you need rest or sleep. Tired is equivalent of weary. A feeling of tiredness occurs when you have used your body and mind. For example, exercise makes us tired; strenuous mental activity such as studying overnight can also make us tired. The physical tiredness is often accompanied by mental fatigue.
The best cure for the feeling of tiredness is a good rest. It will alleviate your mental and physical tiredness and the resultant weakness, making you feel refreshed.
The following sentences will help you to understand more clearly the meaning and usage of this adjective.
He was too tired to go to work.
I saw her rubbing her tired eyes.
Jake and Nate said that they were tired after the trip.
It was impossible to pacify the tired and impatient toddler.
The medical team was very tired after a long surgery.
Figure 01: Example Sentence – He was so tired that he could sleep for days.
What Does Exhausted Mean?
Exhausted is also an adjective similar to weary or tiredness. The main difference between tired and exhausted is the degree of weariness implied by these two adjectives. Exhausted is the extreme case of tiredness. So an exhausted person is a person who is extremely weary or tired.
The degree of weariness implied by these two adjectives can also be understood by the magnitude of the activities that make a person tired. For example, if someone runs 5 miles, he or she will feel tired. But if someone runs 20 miles, he or she will feel exhausted. A person who is feeling tired can probably continue working for several more hours, but an exhausted person won’t be able to do the same.
Look at the following example sentences to understand the meaning of this adjective.
She was exhausted by the time she returned from her 12-hour shift.
I was so exhausted that I slept for 12 hours.
He felt extremely exhausted after the 10-hour surgery.
The students felt exhausted by the end of the exam week.
He was so exhausted that he felt asleep on the living room sofa.
Figure 02: Example Sentence – The exhausted student felt asleep while studying.
What is the difference between Tired and Exhausted?
Tired vs Exhausted | |
| Tired implies the loss of energy or strength. | Exhausted implies an extreme level of tiredness. |
| Example | |
| If a person runs 5 miles, he will feel tired. | If a person runs 20 miles, he will feel exhausted. |
| Capabilities | |
| A tired person can continue working until he becomes exhausted. | An exhausted person needs immediate rest. |
Summary – Tired vs Exhausted
Tired and exhausted are two adjectives that indicate weariness. The difference between tired and exhausted is the degree of weariness. Exhausted is the extreme version of tired. Thus, this adjective indicates more weariness than the adjective tired and should be used for appropriate situations.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Tired Man Sitting on Bed” by Mic445 (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Exhaustion” by Jessica Cross (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
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