He had grown thin and careworn, and had lost the loud, cheery manner for which he had been remarkable.
Source: tatoeba (6981729)
Careworn
/ˈkɛːwɔːn/
Synonyms for "careworn" (47 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (10)
Strong matches (14)
dumb with griefexhaustedexpediencyfaggedgrief strickengrief-strickengrieffulgrievedgrievousheavy-ladenin griefjaded
Related words (23)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: haggard, worn, aggrieved, anguished, burdened.
- Sentence evidence is available for careworn, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "careworn".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "careworn"
Keep "careworn" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "careworn" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "careworn", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "careworn" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesappearance of deteriorationemotional burdenemotional fatiguemoral weightstructural conditionweary state
More specific
9 entriesCollocations
6 entriescareworn appearancecareworn countenancecareworn demeanorcareworn expressioncareworn facecareworn features
Inflections
2 entriesmore carewornmost careworn
Derivations
2 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
7 total sentences available.
The weeks of working hard to look after his sick family left him looking careworn.
Source: wiktionary
At length the long-expected knock was heard. She hurried to the door, and met her husband; a man whose face was care-worn and depressed, though he was young. There was a remarkable expression in it now; a kind of serious delight of which he felt ashamed, and which he struggled to repress.
Source: wiktionary
The effect upon his personal appearance of this wear and tear of his intellect was striking and manifest. The hue of youth and health entirely departed from his cheeks, and he looked so sad and careworn, that it was quite a terrible thing to look upon a young lad so, as it were, upon the threshold of existence, and in whom anxious thoughts were making such war upon the physical energies.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 7 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "careworn"?
Closest matches include haggard, worn, aggrieved, anguished, burdened.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "careworn"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.