How to Say "to exhaust" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to exhaust” is “agotar” — use 'agotar' when someone or something makes a person feel very tired, often through prolonged effort or activity..
agotar
/ah-go-TAR//aɣoˈtaɾ/
Examples
El trabajo de mudanza me agotó por completo.
The moving work completely exhausted me.
Correr un maratón agota a cualquiera.
Running a marathon exhausts anyone.
El trabajo me ha agotado hoy.
Work has tired me out today.
Tanta burocracia agota a los ciudadanos.
So much bureaucracy wearies the citizens.
Describing yourself vs. the action
To say 'I am exhausted', use the '-ado' form with 'estar': 'Estoy agotado'. Use 'agotar' when something else is making you tired: 'El sol me agota'.
Confusing with 'Cansado'
Mistake: “Using 'agotar' for everyday slight tiredness.”
Correction: Use 'cansado' for normal tiredness. Use 'agotar' only when you feel like your battery is at 0%.
rendir
rehn-DEER/renˈdiɾ/
Examples
La caminata larga me rindió.
The long hike exhausted me.
El maratón me rindió completamente.
The marathon completely exhausted me.
Este proyecto me tiene rendida.
This project has worn me out.
La calor rindió a los jugadores.
The heat wore out the players.
Often used passively
You often see this meaning with 'estar' + past participle: 'Estoy rendido' = 'I'm completely exhausted.'
Confusing with 'rendirse'
Mistake: “Saying 'me rindo' when you mean 'I'm tired'”
Correction: Say 'estoy rendido/rendida' (I'm exhausted) - 'me rindo' means 'I give up.'
desgastar
/des-gahs-TAR//dezɣasˈtaɾ/
Examples
Las discusiones constantes desgastaron su paciencia.
The constant arguments exhausted their patience.
Tantos problemas acabaron por desgastar nuestra relación.
So many problems ended up wearing down our relationship.
La oposición intenta desgastar al gobierno actual.
The opposition is trying to weaken the current government.
El estrés constante desgasta la salud mental.
Constant stress wears down mental health.
Metaphorical Erosion
Just like wind wears away stone, you can use 'desgastar' to describe abstract things like authority or love fading away due to friction.
Desgastar vs. Cansar
Mistake: “El trabajo me desgasta.”
Correction: El trabajo me cansa (if you are just tired) vs. El trabajo me está desgastando (if it is slowly destroying your spirit or health over months). Use 'desgastar' for long-term, structural exhaustion.
apurar
/ah-poo-RAHR//apuˈɾaɾ/
Examples
Apuraron las provisiones de comida en pocos días.
They exhausted the food supplies in a few days.
Apuró su copa de vino antes de salir.
He finished his glass of wine to the last drop before leaving.
Hemos apurado todas nuestras opciones legales.
We have exhausted all of our legal options.
No apures mi paciencia, por favor.
Don't push my patience to the limit, please.
Transitive Use
In this sense, 'apurar' is always used with an object (the thing being finished or drained).
moler
/mo-LEHR//moˈleɾ/
Examples
Ese examen me molió.
That exam wore me out.
Ese partido de fútbol me molió.
That soccer game wore me out.
Deja de molerme a preguntas.
Stop pestering me with questions.
Estoy molido después de trabajar doce horas.
I am exhausted (literally 'ground up') after working twelve hours.
Using 'Molido' as an Adjective
While 'moler' is the action of exhausting someone, you will most often hear 'molido' (the past participle) used with 'estar' to mean 'I am exhausted'.
Moler vs. Molestar
Mistake: “Me molió mucho que llegaras tarde.”
Correction: Me molestó mucho que llegaras tarde. (Use 'molestar' for general annoyance; use 'moler' specifically for physical exhaustion or pestering with questions/blows.)
brear
/breh-ahr//bɾeˈaɾ/
Examples
El sol de verano me brea.
The summer sun wears me out.
Mis amigos me brean a bromas cada vez que me ven.
My friends pester me with jokes every time they see me.
El sol nos breó durante toda la caminata.
The sun beat down on us and exhausted us during the whole walk.
No me brees con tantas preguntas, por favor.
Don't badger me with so many questions, please.
Using the 'Personal A'
When 'brear' is used to mean pestering a person, you must use the word 'a' before the person's name or pronoun, like in 'brear a Juan'.
False Friend Alert
Mistake: “I need to brear more deeply.”
Correction: Brear does NOT mean to breathe (respirar). It means to pester or to tar.
reventar
/re-ben-TAR//reβenˈtaɾ/
Examples
Si sigo trabajando así, voy a reventar.
If I keep working like this, I'm going to exhaust myself.
Ese trabajo me va a reventar.
That job is going to exhaust me.
Me revienta que llegues tarde siempre.
It really annoys me that you're always late.
Estamos reventados después de la caminata.
We are exhausted after the hike.
Using 'Reventado' as an Adjective
When you want to say you are tired, use 'estar reventado'. It's much stronger than just saying 'cansado' (tired).
aniquilar
/ah-nee-kee-lahr//anikiˈlaɾ/
Examples
El equipo local aniquiló al visitante en el primer tiempo.
The home team annihilated their opponent in the first half.
El Real Madrid aniquiló al rival con cinco goles.
Real Madrid crushed their rival with five goals.
Ese examen me dejó aniquilado.
That exam left me totally wiped out.
Su crítica lo aniquiló emocionalmente.
Her criticism crushed him emotionally.
Using the Past Participle
When you say 'I am wiped out,' you use 'Estoy aniquilado'. The word changes to 'aniquilada' if you are female.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Mistake: “Nosotros aniquiló al otro equipo.”
Correction: Nosotros aniquilamos al otro equipo. Make sure the verb ending matches 'we' (nosotros).
Tiredness vs. Depletion
Related Translations
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