haggard

1 of 2

adjective

hag·​gard ˈha-gərd 

1

of a hawk : not tamed

2

a

: wild in appearance

b

: having a worn or emaciated appearance : gaunt

haggard faces looked up sadly from out of the straw

—W. M. Thackeray

haggardly adverb

haggardness noun

haggard

2 of 2

noun

1

: an adult hawk caught wild

2

obsolete : an intractable person

Synonyms

Adjective

• cadaverous
• emaciated
• gaunt
• skeletal
• wasted

Examples of haggard in a Sentence

Adjective

She looked tired and haggard.

We were shocked by his haggard appearance.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Moore goes for broke as Elisabeth rapidly ages, flawlessly executing a sequence during which the haggard former star mocks one of Sue's television interviews. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 7 Sep. 2024

In other parts of the movie, where the substance is having side effects that force Elizabeth to become haggard and prematurely elderly, Moore was forced to contort herself in punishing ways. —Brent Lang, Variety, 7 Sep. 2024

Much of the film features Willow listening in on tense conversations between the haggard adults in her life from behind closed doors or within the shadows. —Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 26 July 2024

To me, baby-proofing is about figuring out how to have a gorgeous space that doesn't look haggard after a couple of years. —Ariel Okin, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle French hagard

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

haggard

adjective

hag·​gard

ˈhag-ərd

: very thin especially from great hunger, worry, or pain

Biographical Definition

Haggard

biographical name

Hag·​gard ˈha-gərd 

Sir (Henry) Rider 1856–1925 English novelist