When someone looks haggard, they appear exhausted and worn out in a way you can actually see on their face. Their eyes might be sunken with dark circles underneath, their skin pale, their expression strained. A student pulling an all-nighter before exams might look haggard the next morning. A parent caring for a sick child for several nights in a row often appears haggard from lost sleep and worry.

The word captures more than simple tiredness. Someone who's just sleepy might yawn and rub their eyes, but a haggard person looks like exhaustion has settled into their features. Imagine a traveler who's been hiking for days without proper rest, or a worker who's been laboring from dawn to dusk. Their faces tell the story of their ordeal.

Haggard can also describe something that looks worn and weather-beaten, like a haggard old barn leaning to one side after years of harsh winters, its paint peeling and boards warped. The word always suggests that time, effort, or hardship has taken a visible toll.