inanity

noun

inan·​i·​ty i-ˈna-nə-tē 

plural inanities

1

: the quality or state of being inane: such as

a

: vapid, pointless, or fatuous character : shallowness

b

: lack of substance : emptiness

2

: something that is inane

Synonyms

• absurdity
• asininity
• bêtise
• fatuity
• folly
• foolery
• foppery
• idiocy
• imbecility
• insanity
• lunacy
• stupidity

Examples of inanity in a Sentence

quickly realized that her suggestion was an inanity and withdrew it

the jaw-dropping inanity of the singer's comments on the awards show

Recent Examples on the Web

And so, saying poor people choose to be poor and these kind of inanities at the time. —Steve Baltin, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024

Unfortunately, any theme Feldman tries to hang on these slippery characters just slides off into inanity. —Judy Berman, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024

Released about six months after Independence Day, this snarling adaptation of the 1960s Topps trading cards came across as an unwitting send-up of that invasion movie’s cheerful, gung-ho, big-spectacle inanity. —Will Leitch, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2024

Words of wisdom—and inanity Psaki’s mother’s advice is surely sage, unlike some other words of wisdom Psaki’s received over the years. —Jane Thier, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

inanity

noun

inan·​i·​ty in-ˈan-ət-ē 

plural inanities

1

: the quality or state of being inane

2

: something inane