careworn
UK: ˈkeə.wɔːn | US: ˈker.wɔːrn
adj. showing the effects of prolonged worry or stress; weary or exhausted from anxiety.
The word "careworn" combines "care" (Old English caru, meaning "sorrow" or "anxiety") and "worn" (Old English woren, past participle of werian, meaning "to wear out"). The term emerged in the early 19th century, vividly depicting someone physically or emotionally drained by persistent worry. The metaphor likens emotional strain to the gradual erosion of an object through use, emphasizing the visible toll of prolonged stress.
Her careworn face revealed years of hardship.
The careworn farmer sighed as he surveyed the drought-stricken fields.
Despite his careworn appearance, he managed a faint smile.
The nurse’s careworn hands trembled after her double shift.
The portrait captured the careworn expression of a grieving mother.