1
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest another moralizing tale filled with jejune platitudes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word jejune distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of jejune are banal, flat, inane, insipid, and vapid. While all these words mean "devoid of qualities that make for spirit and character," jejune suggests a lack of rewarding or satisfying substance.

a jejune and gassy speech

When might banal be a better fit than jejune?

While the synonyms banal and jejune are close in meaning, banal stresses the complete absence of freshness, novelty, or immediacy.

a banal tale of unrequited love

Where would flat be a reasonable alternative to jejune?

While in some cases nearly identical to jejune, flat applies to things that have lost their sparkle or zest.

although well-regarded in its day, the novel now seems flat

In what contexts can inane take the place of jejune?

The words inane and jejune are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inane implies a lack of any significant or convincing quality.

an inane interpretation of the play

When is insipid a more appropriate choice than jejune?

The words insipid and jejune can be used in similar contexts, but insipid implies a lack of sufficient taste or savor to please or interest.

an insipid romance with platitudes on every page

When would vapid be a good substitute for jejune?

In some situations, the words vapid and jejune are roughly equivalent. However, vapid suggests a lack of liveliness, force, or spirit.

an exciting story given a vapid treatment

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for jejune
Adjective
  • Broberg’s heartbreaking overtime winner Some overtimes are boring, with teams methodically regrouping.
    Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Transform boring tasks into challenges with stakes, rewards, and achievements.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The Empire is a manifesto opposing the most corrupt, childish film genre.
    Armond White, National Review, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Trump Turnberry calls pro-Palestinian group's actions a 'childish, criminal act' Police in Scotland said officers were investigating after receiving a report about the golf course being damaged around 4:40 a.m., a spokesperson for the department told Reuters and Fox News.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • His is a sort of erudite buffoonery that consistently tap-dances between clever, self-aware, and patently stupid.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Each of them loses track of a CD filled with secrets, and some end up dying in the stupidest possible ways because of their incompetence.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • He’s been there; Harper was emotional — at times, immature — as a younger player.
    Matt Gelb, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
  • From its opening scenes, Severance has presented the procedure the show is named for as a kind of birth, the spawning of a new, immature being.
    Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • While squatting is a relatively rare problem at the national level, the issue has gotten more attention over the past year—and can be extremely tiring and stressful for property owners.
    Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
  • Kraft likes taking big swings, but after tiring of Belichick’s autocratic approach, his priority for the 2024 season was simply regaining control of his franchise.
    Mike Sando, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Disturbing New Details Emerge About the State of the Global Climate Chronic Climate Stressors Hadfield and her team identified three main ways that climate change affected adolescent mental health.
    Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The low-scoring adolescent may not have enjoyed those same advantages and may have experienced stress due to poverty.
    Dalton Conley, TIME, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Brandon Bell/Getty Images/Getty Images North America Consumer spending has softened so far this year, however, which could lead to slower economic growth.
    Scott Horsley, NPR, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Keeling had discovered what became known as the Keeling Curve – the slow rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that was causing global warming.
    Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Adult males, called boars, are emerging from their dens this month, with females and juvenile bears expected to follow in April and early May.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
  • But with the White House continuing to insist that Goldberg lied and that nothing was classified, The Atlantic called their bluff and published them in full, complete with missile-launch schedules and juvenile fist-bump emojis.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Jejune.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jejune. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

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