Key Difference – Fatigue vs Tired
Fatigue and tired are two words that have similar meanings. Both refer to weariness or exhaustion. However, there is a distinct difference between fatigue and tired based on their usage as well as their grammatical nature. Fatigue is a noun that is often used in medical contexts whereas tired is an adjective that is often used in general contexts. This can be considered as the key difference between fatigue and tired.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What Does Fatigue Mean
3. What Does Tired Mean
4. Side by Side Comparison – Fatigue vs Tired
5. Summary
What Does Fatigue Mean?
Fatigue typically indicates a higher degree of weariness than tired. Fatigue is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “weariness or exhaustion from labor, exertion, or stress” and by the Oxford Dictionary as “extreme tiredness resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness.”
This term is more used in medical contexts when compared to tired. It is often considered as a symptom of another medical condition. Fatigue can be mental or physical; oftentimes both these conditions are experienced together. If a person is physically fatigued for a considerable period, he or she tends to be mentally fatigued as well.
Physical fatigue usually refers to the weakness in muscles or lack of strength, which makes it difficult to carry out the physical activities a person usually does (for example, climbing stairs, carrying grocery bags, etc.) However, if someone is mentally fatigued, he or she will feel sleepy and find it difficult to concentrate.
There is a grammatical difference between fatigue and tired, which makes it difficult to replace each other in a sentence. Fatigue is a noun whereas tired is an adjective.
Physical fatigue and dizziness are symptoms of this illness.
Women over the age of 40 are more likely to experience fatigue than men.
He complained to the doctor about fatigue.
Figure 01: Example Sentence – The hiker has collapsed from fatigue.
What Does Tired Mean?
Tired is an adjective that refers to the weariness one feels from metal or/and physical exertion. It is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “drained of strength and energy” and by Oxford dictionary as “weary” or “in need of sleep or rest.”
When you have lost your energy or strength after a physical or mental exertion, you will feel tired. For example, physical activity such as exercise and strenuous mental activity such as studying overnight can 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.
Observe the following example sentences in order to understand the meaning and usage of the adjective tired.
I was so tired after the trip that I felt asleep on the couch.
They were dead tired by the time they reached the top of the mountain.
She was tired, but she was determined to keep on driving until she reached her destination.
It was not easy to pacify the tired baby.
Figure 02: Example Sentence – She felt tired after few hours of studying.
What is the difference between Fatigue and Tired?
Fatigue vs Tired |
|
| Fatigue refers to extreme tiredness resulting from exertion or illness. | Tired refers to weariness, often resulting from exertion. |
| Nature | |
| Fatigue is a noun and a verb. | Tired is an adjective. |
| Mitigation of Risks | |
| Fatigue is often used in medical contexts. | Tired is used in general contexts. |
Summary – Fatigue vs Tired
Fatigue and tired are two words that refer to weariness and exhaustion. Although both words have similar meanings, they cannot be used interchangeably due to their grammatical difference. Fatigue is a noun, and a verb whereas tired is an adjective. In addition, there is another important difference between fatigue and tired, which is their usage; fatigue is often used in medical contexts to refer to a symptom whereas tired is often used in general contexts.
Image Courtesy: Pixabay