haggard
12 synonyms and 3 antonyms for haggard, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Looking tired, worn out, or unwell, often from stress, illness, or lack of sleep.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use haggard
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
haggard face
look haggard
Etymology
From Old French faulcon hagard ("wild falcon"), originally describing an untamed hawk caught as an adult; the modern sense of "looking exhausted" developed later.
Full origin of haggard →Frequently asked questions
What does “haggard” mean?
The word “haggard” means looking tired, worn out, or unwell, often from stress, illness, or lack of sleep. In plain terms, exhausted-looking, worn down by tiredness or hardship.
How do you pronounce “haggard”?
“Haggard” is pronounced HAG-uhd (/ˈhæɡ.ɚd/ in IPA).
How do you use “haggard” in a sentence?
Here is “haggard” used in a sentence: “After the all-night flight, he looked haggard and pale.”
What is another word for “haggard”?
Words with a similar meaning to “haggard” include careworn, drawn, weary and woeworn.
What is the opposite of “haggard”?
The opposite of “haggard” — its antonyms — are active, bright and cheerful.
What part of speech is “haggard”?
“Haggard” is an adjective.
Where does the word “haggard” come from?
The word “haggard” comes from Old French. From Old French faulcon hagard ("wild falcon"), originally describing an untamed hawk caught as an adult; the modern sense of "looking exhausted" developed later.
