knackered

adjective

ˈna-kərd How to pronounce knackered (audio)
Definition of knackerednext
British
as in exhausted
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness I'm absolutely knackered, so no pub-crawling for me tonight

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of knackered Or at least see the knock-on effects on knackered players during the new domestic season? — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025 The bones of knackered cattle in the glue that held his antique books together. — Daisy Hildyard, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024 And, if their knees get too knackered, there’s a backup Santa. — Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2021 The adrenaline from having our first child (and keeping him alive) got me through the first several days without feeling completely knackered, but my lack of nocturnal restoration eventually took its toll. — Patrick Wilson, Outside Online, 15 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knackered
  1. exhausted
  2. tired
Adjective
  • If a year in, the founder is still in every meeting and the new hire is the most exhausted person in the building, the company did not hire an operator.
    — Ken Paskins, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • That loaded the bases, and Christian Yelich then greeted an exhausted Yamamoto with a two-run single.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of exhausted
Adjective
  • Getting camera-ready Crawford never tired of redecorating her house throughout her 26 years there and had a long collaborative relationship with decorator William Haines.
    — Megan Johnson, Architectural Digest, 14 Oct. 2026
  • As such, the group designed this high-tech salve to revive tired skin on a cellular level, but also with a little mood boost.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of tired

Browse Nearby Words

knack
knackered
knacks
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Knackered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knackered. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All