French Conversation · Level 117
58 words
French word
exténuer
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛkstenɥe/
Meaning
- verbexhaust
Example
Le travail constant exténue les employés.
Constant work exhausts the employees.
More examples
La chaleur accablante nous exténue au bout d'une heure.
The oppressive heat exhausts us after an hour.
Core concept
A person's reserves being worn down until almost no strength remains.
Similar words
fatiguer: To make someone tired through physical or mental effort.
épuiser: To use up someone's strength, leaving little capacity to recover.
lasser: To wear away someone's interest or motivation through repetition or boredom.
Definition in French
Faire perdre beaucoup d'énergie ou de force à quelqu'un ou quelque chose, le rendre extrêmement faible.
Word origin
French exténuer comes from Latin extenuare, meaning to make thin or weak, from tenuis, meaning thin.
Usage tips
- Exténuer is more formal than fatiguer in ordinary conversation, while épuiser is the commoner strong equivalent.
Other meanings
- tireverb
- weakenverb
Opposites
- revigorerinvigorateverb
Related words
- exténuéexhaustedadjective
- exténuationexhaustionnoun