Looking exhausted and unwell, especially from fatigue, worry, or suffering.
Originally from falconry, describing a wild adult hawk caught for training, from Old French hagard. The meaning shifted to describe wild, untamed appearance, then to the modern sense of looking worn and exhausted.
The journey from falconry to describing human appearance shows how specialized terms can become general descriptors. A haggard hawk was one caught in the wild as an adult, making it harder to train - this wildness and difficulty translated perfectly to describing people who look worn down by life's struggles.
Originally applied primarily to women's appearances as a marker of aging or desperation. The term carries gendered assumptions about female visibility and the male gaze, often used pejoratively.
Describe specific physical conditions (exhaustion, stress) rather than appearance judgments. When necessary, apply equally across genders.
["exhausted","worn","strained","drawn"]
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