Spanish word

extenuación

Pronunciation

IPA/ekstenwaˈθjon/

Meaning

  • feminine nounexhaustion

Example

Después de la carrera, sentía una gran extenuación.

After the race, I felt profound exhaustion.

Illustration for extenuación (exhaustion)

More examples

Tras cuidar a su hijo enfermo varios días, sufrió extenuación física y mental.

After caring for her sick child for several days, she suffered physical and mental exhaustion.

Core concept

Intense physical and mental wearing down from prolonged extreme effort.

Common phrases

  • sufrir extenuación

    suffer exhaustion

  • al borde de la extenuación

    on the verge of exhaustion

Similar words

agotamiento: Severe depletion of physical energy and endurance after prolonged strain, leaving little reserve.
cansancio: Mild, everyday tiredness after normal activity that produces sleepiness or a need to rest.

Definition in Spanish

Debilitamiento físico o mental intenso causado por un esfuerzo prolongado o extremo.

Word origin

From Latin extenuatio via the verb extenuare (ex- 'out' + tenuis 'thin'), originally 'make thin' and later 'weaken', now a noun for severe depletion of strength and energy.

Usage tips

  • More formal than everyday speech; speakers usually say estoy agotado in conversation while extenuación appears in medical or written descriptions.

Other meanings

  • debilitationnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word