Feeling tired is something everyone experiences at some point. It can feel like a weight on your shoulders, or like you’re running on empty. But how can we better describe this common feeling? One way is through metaphors—words and phrases that compare tiredness to other experiences we can relate to. These comparisons allow us to paint a clearer picture of how fatigue affects us.
Metaphors for tiredness are helpful tools in describing how we feel, even when words alone don’t quite capture it. Whether you’re physically exhausted after a long day, mentally drained from constant work, or emotionally worn out, these metaphors can help explain what it’s like to be utterly spent.
Metaphors for Tired
1. Running on Empty
Meaning: Feeling completely drained or having no energy left.
In a Sentence: After working long hours all week and spending the entire weekend catching up on chores, Sarah felt like she was running on empty by Friday night, struggling to keep her eyes open as the day stretched on into evening.
Other Ways to Say: Running low, Out of steam
2. Burnt Out
Meaning: Exhausted to the point where no more effort can be given.
In a Sentence: After putting in months of long hours on a massive project, with barely any time for rest, Jake felt burnt out, his mind and body drained to the point where he had no more energy or motivation to push forward any longer.
Other Ways to Say: Exhausted, Depleted
3. A Battery That Needs Recharging
Meaning: Needing rest to regain energy or focus.
In a Sentence: After a long, grueling week filled with meetings and endless emails, Maria felt like a battery that needed recharging, realizing that all she wanted was to spend the weekend away from the hustle and bustle, relaxing and regaining the energy she lost.
Other Ways to Say: In need of a break, Running on low power
4. Like a Worn-Down Machine
Meaning: Feeling physically or mentally worn out from overuse.
In a Sentence: Days of late-night studying and early-morning classes had left Tom feeling like a worn-down machine, his mind foggy and his body aching, barely able to keep up with the demands of the day.
Other Ways to Say: Out of order, Overworked
5. Like a Broken Record
Meaning: Feeling exhausted from repeating the same tasks or experiences over and over.
In a Sentence: Sarah had been working on the same project for weeks, day in and day out, and it felt like she was a broken record, playing the same monotonous tune without any new challenges or excitement to keep her engaged.
Other Ways to Say: Stuck in a loop, Repeating the same thing
6. Running a Marathon
Meaning: Enduring a long, difficult period of exhaustion or effort.
In a Sentence: After weeks of non-stop work, Jennifer felt like she was running a marathon, each task more exhausting than the last, but somehow, she had to keep going, step by step, towards the finish line.
Other Ways to Say: Enduring a tough challenge, Going the distance
7. Like a Deflated Balloon
Meaning: Feeling completely drained or lacking energy.
In a Sentence: After the intense week of meetings and presentations, Mark felt like a deflated balloon, all of his energy was gone, and there was no way to inflate himself back up to face another task.
Other Ways to Say: Deflated, Completely drained
8. Like a Soggy Sponge
Meaning: Feeling worn out and unable to soak up anything more.
In a Sentence: After hours of back-to-back calls and non-stop work, Susan felt like a soggy sponge, unable to absorb any more information or hold onto her concentration for one more minute.
Other Ways to Say: Saturated, Overloaded
9. Like a Car Running Low on Fuel
Meaning: Feeling like you don’t have the energy or resources to keep going.
In a Sentence: By the time the weekend arrived, Tim felt like a car running low on fuel, barely able to drag himself through the day, knowing he needed to refuel before he could go any further.
Other Ways to Say: Out of steam, Low on energy
10. Like a Tired Old Dog
Meaning: Feeling physically exhausted and worn down.
In a Sentence: After hiking for hours under the hot sun, Sarah felt like a tired old dog, her legs aching and her energy completely zapped, desperately longing to lie down and rest.
Other Ways to Say: Exhausted, Worn out
11. Spinning Your Wheels
Meaning: Feeling like you are putting in effort but not making any progress.
In a Sentence: Even after hours of work, Jack felt like he was spinning his wheels, stuck in the same spot and unable to make any significant progress, no matter how hard he tried.
Other Ways to Say: Stuck in a rut, Not making headway
12. Like a Dying Lightbulb
Meaning: Running out of energy, fading slowly.
In a Sentence: After finishing a full day of meetings and tasks, Lisa felt like a dying lightbulb, slowly flickering out as her body desperately craved rest and relaxation.
Other Ways to Say: Fading, Running out of energy
13. Like an Overworked Farm Animal
Meaning: Feeling used up, worn out from too much work.
In a Sentence: By the time the deadline approached, Tom felt like an overworked farm animal, his mind and body worn from the constant pressure, with little hope of finding rest in sight.
Other Ways to Say: Overburdened, Worn to the bone
14. A Body That’s Been Through the Wars
Meaning: Feeling physically battered and bruised after strenuous effort.
In a Sentence: After spending the whole day packing boxes and moving furniture, Jenny felt like a body that had been through the wars, her muscles sore and her bones aching from the exertion.
Other Ways to Say: Battered, Broken down
15. Like a Shattered Mirror
Meaning: Feeling mentally or physically broken and unable to function properly.
In a Sentence: After a string of sleepless nights and endless responsibilities, Jason felt like a shattered mirror, all the pieces of him scattered and unable to come together to face the day.
Other Ways to Say: Fragmented, Cracked
16. Like a Worn-Out Pair of Shoes
Meaning: Feeling like you’ve been used too much and have no more energy left.
In a Sentence: After running around all day, meeting with clients and managing work tasks, Rachel felt like a worn-out pair of shoes, her energy completely drained, and her body aching from the constant use.
Other Ways to Say: Used up, Overused
17. Like a Leaf Blown by the Wind
Meaning: Feeling helpless and carried along by circumstances without energy to control things.
In a Sentence: After a week of non-stop meetings and deadlines, Mark felt like a leaf blown by the wind, carried along by the demands of others, with no energy to make his own choices or rest.
Other Ways to Say: Helpless, Drifting
18. Like a Burnt Toast
Meaning: Overdone, exhausted beyond recovery for the moment.
In a Sentence: After staying up late to finish the project and waking up early for another round of work, Laura felt like a burnt toast, nothing more than a charred version of herself, and in need of serious rest.
Other Ways to Say: Overcooked, Done for
19. Like an Empty Cup
Meaning: Feeling like there’s nothing left to give, emotionally or physically.
In a Sentence: After dealing with personal issues and work stress, Chris felt like an empty cup, drained of all his energy and with nothing left to offer, just waiting to be refilled with rest and calm.
Other Ways to Say: Depleted, Empty inside
20. Like a Stale Cookie
Meaning: Feeling old, tired, and lacking any freshness or newness.
In a Sentence: By the end of the week, Helen felt like a stale cookie, with nothing left to give, her energy fading and her enthusiasm gone.
Other Ways to Say: Old and tired, Lifeless
21. Like a Worn-Out Towel
Meaning: Having been used too much, losing its effectiveness and energy.
In a Sentence: After endless hours of cleaning and organizing, Daniel felt like a worn-out towel, no longer absorbing anything new and unable to keep going.
Other Ways to Say: Soggy, Used up
22. Like a Withered Plant
Meaning: Lacking energy, faded and drained.
In a Sentence: After spending the entire week working overtime, Emily felt like a withered plant, wilting in the heat, and desperate for some nourishment in the form of rest.
Other Ways to Say: Drooping, Wilting
23. Like a Puddle in the Sun
Meaning: Feeling exhausted and close to evaporating or disappearing due to overwork or lack of rest.
In a Sentence: After the long, stressful project, Julia felt like a puddle in the sun, with her energy slowly evaporating as she struggled to keep up with the demands of her day.
Other Ways to Say: Fading away, Melting
24. Like an Old Clock
Meaning: Running out of time or energy, feeling slow and worn.
In a Sentence: With every tick of the clock, Michael felt like an old clock, winding down, his energy slowly running out with each passing minute.
Other Ways to Say: Worn down, Slowing down
25. Like a Tree After Winter
Meaning: Feeling bare and lifeless, needing time to regrow.
In a Sentence: After a long period of stress and pressure, Clara felt like a tree after winter, stripped of her energy and vitality, longing for a fresh start and some time to regenerate.
Other Ways to Say: Bare, Needing renewal
26. Like a Stripped-Down Car
Meaning: Feeling like you’ve been run down, with no energy or parts left to give.
In a Sentence: After hours of work with no breaks, Amy felt like a stripped-down car, everything running on fumes and barely making it to the finish line.
Other Ways to Say: Bare bones, Running out of parts
27. Like a Worn-out Battery
Meaning: Feeling drained and unable to function effectively.
In a Sentence: After several sleepless nights of studying, John felt like a worn-out battery, with nothing left to recharge his brain for one more test.
Other Ways to Say: Out of power, Low on energy
28. Like a Deserted Island
Meaning: Feeling completely isolated and drained, needing help to recharge.
In a Sentence: After a full week of back-to-back meetings, Rachel felt like a deserted island, with no energy left and no resources to keep her going.
Other Ways to Say: Stranded, Isolated
29. Like a Tired Horse
Meaning: Physically worn out, unable to keep up.
In a Sentence: After the grueling day at work, Michael felt like a tired horse, stumbling through the evening with his legs heavy and his mind foggy.
Other Ways to Say: Weary, Exhausted
30. Like a Deflated Tire
Meaning: Feeling deflated and without energy.
In a Sentence: After weeks of stressful deadlines, Sarah felt like a deflated tire, unable to carry any more weight and needing time to reinflate.
Other Ways to Say: Flattened, Drained
31. Like a Worn Leather Jacket
Meaning: Feeling used up, old, and lacking in energy.
In a Sentence: After hours of work, Kevin felt like a worn leather jacket, the color faded and the strength gone, but still pushing through.
Other Ways to Say: Faded, Used
32. Like a Burned-Out Candle
Meaning: Lacking any more light or energy to offer.
In a Sentence: After finishing the project, Jenna felt like a burned-out candle, the flame of motivation extinguished, and the wax of energy melted away.
Other Ways to Say: Dimmed, Expired
33. Like a Pushed-Over Domino
Meaning: Feeling like you’re on the brink of collapsing, with no energy to get up.
In a Sentence: After being constantly on the go for days, Paul felt like a pushed-over domino, waiting for someone to help him back up again.
Other Ways to Say: Collapsing, Falling apart
34. Like a Worn-Out Watch
Meaning: Feeling outdated, tired, and needing repair.
In a Sentence: After dealing with the stress of work, Megan felt like a worn-out watch, ticking slower and slower, her energy winding down with each passing moment.
Other Ways to Say: Out of sync, Slow
35. Like a Tired, Old Tree
Meaning: Feeling worn and in need of rest or rejuvenation.
In a Sentence: After the long months of work, Julie felt like a tired, old tree, her branches sagging, desperate for some rejuvenating time away from it all.
Other Ways to Say: Aging, Overworked
36. Like an Empty Gas Tank
Meaning: Running on empty, with no energy to continue.
In a Sentence: By the end of the day, Jack felt like an empty gas tank, all his energy drained, and he couldn’t keep going any longer.
Other Ways to Say: Empty, Depleted
37. Like a Bent Spoon
Meaning: Feeling physically and mentally exhausted, unable to function properly.
In a Sentence: After several hours of meetings and phone calls, Lisa felt like a bent spoon, worn out and incapable of doing anything with grace.
Other Ways to Say: Worn, Unfit
38. Like a Drenched Rag
Meaning: Completely soaked and drained of all energy.
In a Sentence: After a full day of errands, Susan felt like a drenched rag, having given all she had and needing some serious rest to recover.
Other Ways to Say: Soaked, Saturated
39. Like a Broken Winged Bird
Meaning: Feeling unable to fly, move forward, or function due to exhaustion.
In a Sentence: After juggling work, family, and personal life for weeks, Mike felt like a broken-winged bird, unable to soar but desperately trying to push through.
Other Ways to Say: Grounded, Weak
40. Like an Old Tire
Meaning: Feeling worn out, old, and in need of replacement.
In a Sentence: After staying up late every night, John felt like an old tire, constantly flat and never able to find the strength to roll forward.
Other Ways to Say: Worn out, Used up
41. Like a Fading Echo
Meaning: Feeling like your energy or presence is diminishing.
In a Sentence: After days of being overwhelmed with work, Rachel felt like a fading echo, her voice weak and her energy quickly dissipating into the void.
Other Ways to Say: Faint, Waning
42. Like a Tired Furnace
Meaning: Burning out after being overused, in need of a rest.
In a Sentence: After working non-stop to meet deadlines, Alice felt like a tired furnace, running low on fuel and unable to keep up the heat.
Other Ways to Say: Burned out, Exhausted
43. Like a Sinking Ship
Meaning: Feeling like you’re sinking under pressure, no energy to keep afloat.
In a Sentence: After spending all night working on the project, Tom felt like a sinking ship, drowning under the weight of exhaustion and deadlines.
Other Ways to Say: Submerged, Overwhelmed
44. Like a Rusty Gear
Meaning: Feeling worn and not functioning as smoothly as usual.
In a Sentence: After a long week of constant work, Karen felt like a rusty gear, her thoughts and actions dragging, unable to run as efficiently as before.
Other Ways to Say: Stiff, Slow-moving
45. Like a Sleepy Cat
Meaning: Feeling extremely tired and lethargic.
In a Sentence: After the long flight, Sarah felt like a sleepy cat, barely able to lift her head, let alone stay awake for the rest of the day.
Other Ways to Say: Lethargic, Lazy
46. Like a Tired Old Engine
Meaning: Feeling like you’re constantly struggling to keep going.
In a Sentence: By the end of the week, Mike felt like a tired old engine, struggling to keep up and constantly sputtering, unsure if he could make it to the finish line.
Other Ways to Say: Worn down, Out of gas
47. Like a Cold Cup of Coffee
Meaning: Lacking warmth or energy, going through the motions without enthusiasm.
In a Sentence: After dealing with back-to-back meetings, Emily felt like a cold cup of coffee, lacking the warmth and energy she needed to take on the rest of the day.
Other Ways to Say: Lukewarm, Stale
48. Like a Cracked Pot
Meaning: Feeling fragile and close to breaking, unable to handle more strain.
In a Sentence: After the week from hell, Claire felt like a cracked pot, barely holding together, one more task away from breaking down.
Other Ways to Say: Fragile, About to break
49. Like a Wilted Flower
Meaning: Feeling drained, with energy slowly fading away.
In a Sentence: After the constant rush of deadlines and responsibilities, Mark felt like a wilted flower, his energy fading, and the only thing he needed was some time to refresh.
Other Ways to Say: Drooping, Exhausted
50. Like a Broken String
Meaning: Feeling disconnected and incapable of holding it all together.
In a Sentence: After everything that had happened, Rachel felt like a broken string, unable to keep things together and simply unraveling under the pressure.
Other Ways to Say: Frayed, Unraveled
51. Like an Overcooked Steak
Meaning: Completely worn out, with no vitality left.
In a Sentence: By the time Friday rolled around, John felt like an overcooked steak—tough, dry, and in desperate need of some rest.
Other Ways to Say: Overdone, Tough
52. Like a Forgotten Toy
Meaning: Feeling neglected, ignored, or left behind due to fatigue.
In a Sentence: After days of non-stop work, Susan felt like a forgotten toy, collecting dust in the corner while everyone else moved forward.
Other Ways to Say: Left behind, Neglected
53. Like a Drowned Rat
Meaning: Feeling completely defeated and drained, emotionally or physically.
In a Sentence: After getting caught in the rain, running late for meetings, and dealing with all the stress, Jack felt like a drowned rat, utterly exhausted and defeated.
Other Ways to Say: Soaked, Miserable
54. Like a Slow Drip of Water
Meaning: Feeling like your energy is slowly leaking out of you, bit by bit.
In a Sentence: After months of overwork and stress, Kelly felt like a slow drip of water, unable to keep up the pace and losing her energy little by little.
Other Ways to Say: Draining, Leaking
55. Like a Faded Photograph
Meaning: Feeling as if you’re no longer as sharp or energetic, losing clarity and vitality.
In a Sentence: After a month of sleepless nights and endless responsibilities, Mark felt like a faded photograph—his energy and focus were blurry and dimmed, and he needed time to restore his clarity.
Other Ways to Say: Fuzzy, Out of focus
Conclusion
Metaphors provide a colorful way to express tiredness, a universal feeling that everyone can relate to. By using these comparisons, we can better articulate just how exhausted we feel when our energy is depleted. Whether you’re running on empty, burnt out, or like a deflated tire, these metaphors help convey the struggle and the need for rest. So, next time you’re tired, think about what metaphor best represents your level of exhaustion—because sometimes, words alone can’t quite capture the weight of it.