tiresome

adjective

tire·​some ˈtī(-ə)r-səm 

: wearisome, tedious

a tiresome lecture

tiresomely adverb

tiresomeness noun

Synonyms

• arid
• boring
• colorless
• drab
• dreary
• drudging
• dry
• dull
• dusty
• flat
• heavy
• ho-hum
• humdrum
• jading
• jejune
• leaden
• mind-numbing
• monochromatic
• monotonous
• numbing
• old
• pedestrian
• ponderous
• slow
• stale
• stodgy
• stuffy
• stupid
• tame
• tedious
• tiring
• uninteresting
• wearisome
• weary
• wearying

Examples of tiresome in a Sentence

All those stories about his childhood can become tiresome after a while.

what a tiresome church service that turned out to be

Recent Examples on the Web

Loud, tiresome and half-baked, the off-kilter hilarity and attempts at sentimentality aren’t given much clearance to land, causing the emotional overtones to feel unearned. —Courtney Howard, Variety, 29 Jan. 2025

Even after the online arguments about Beyoncé’s influences and ideology became tiresome, Cowboy Carter’s music remained grander and weirder than discourse could capture. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2024

And insensitivity, such as haranguing others with the same tiresome criticisms, a fault? —Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2024

Mira Modern Anti-Fatigue Kitchen Mat $55 $28 at Wayfair Preparing meals for the holidays can be tiresome, so consider this anti-fatigue mat that doubles as decor and provides relief when standing for long periods of time. —Kelsey Fredricks, People.com, 28 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1520, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

tiresome

adjective

tire·​some ˈtī(ə)r-səm 

: likely to tire one because of length or dullness : boring

a tiresome lecture

tiresomely adverb