as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
the characterizations are good, but the plot is just ho-hum
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ho-hum
James Poniewozik, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
These plants have long been a landscape staple, especially as an evergreen foundation plant, to the point where they were seen as pedestrian and a little ho-hum.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2025
Sunday was about as ho-hum as a dominant performance could be.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025
In fact, contrary to California’s glitzy image, Reagan and Schwarzenegger are the odd men out in a long line of drab, largely ho-hum candidates who have been elected to the state’s top office.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ho-hum
Adjective
But neither was there the ho-hum, dutiful lassitude that usually accompanies second inaugurations, like Barack Obama’s in 2013.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
These plants have long been a landscape staple, especially as an evergreen foundation plant, to the point where they were seen as pedestrian and a little ho-hum.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2025
Sunday was about as ho-hum as a dominant performance could be.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025
In fact, contrary to California’s glitzy image, Reagan and Schwarzenegger are the odd men out in a long line of drab, largely ho-hum candidates who have been elected to the state’s top office.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ho-hum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ho-hum
Adjective
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The whole thing also looks pretty—budget and midrange phones tend to be super boring, but the Pixel 8A has a smart design with a matte rear texture.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
28 Feb. 2025
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Buck is a loquacious, glad-handing oaf who has a boring way with a witty story, and is marked for death.—
Fred Schruers,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 2025
Interjection
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Highlights include a costume parade (for kids and parents), a Purim story and boo Haman and songs.—
Linda McIntosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2024
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Volunteer yourself to help with X, Y and Z accommodations if that lightens the family’s workload, without saying boo about the couple’s choices.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
18 Jan. 2024
Adjective
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The 2024-25 Bruins are slow, short on skill, inconsistent on defense and diminished in net.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
The Athletic,
8 Mar. 2025
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In the men’s draw, Daniil Medvedev, the Russian powerhouse, has been crushing it on slow courts.—
David Hochman,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This Atlético Madrid side is going from strength to strength and is showing little sign of tiring even as the pressure heats up.—
Sam Leveridge,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
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The first few years of being a parent can be among the most tiring as moms and dads try and often fail to get infants into a regular routine of unbroken sleep at night.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The fight was very dull and Ankalaev most held his way to the victory.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
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Without their alternate selves to tug at them, these characters would be dull, dull, dull.—
Katy Waldman,
The New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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When Luca pulls a gun on him, ordering him to drive, Spencer quickly disarms him and then slaps him for the stupid move.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
9 Mar. 2025
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Indexing gives you a better chance to ‘be less stupid.’ — Investment advisor Barry Ritholtz Those dismal statistics come to us via the latest annual SPIVA scorecard (the acronym stands for Standard and Poor’s Index vs. Active).—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Americans have grown weary; not just of the news, but also of the entire miserable chore of learning about it.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
25 Feb. 2025
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That reputation began in 70 C.E. when the mineral springs were directed into a massive bathhouse for weary Roman soldiers.—
Cat Sposato,
AFAR Media,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The other part of him, the innie, is for all intents and purposes 2 1/2 years old.—
Gary Levin,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2025
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Every year in the US, there are approximately 35,000 ER visits due to unintentional medication overdoses among children under 5 years old.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN,
1 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ho-hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ho-hum. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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