adjective
haggard
HAG-uhd
Haggard (adjective) means looking tired, worn out, or unwell, often from stress, illness, or lack of sleep. Example: “After the all-night flight, he looked haggard and pale.”
adjective
1
Looking tired, worn out, or unwell, often from stress, illness, or lack of sleep.
"After the all-night flight, he looked haggard and pale."
"The survivors emerged haggard but alive."
How to use haggard
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExhausted-looking, worn down by tiredness or hardship.
Common pairings
haggard face
look haggard
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Word forms
- Plural
- haggards
- Comparative
- more haggard
- Superlative
- most haggard
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
After the all-night flight, he looked _____ and pale.
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.
Synonyms
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Related words
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.
