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
IEEE Spectrum, 7 Jan. 2011
The distinction between being unique and ho hum is as thin as the crust.
—Bill Field, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2025
Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2025
The jalapeno pesto it’s bathed in transports the dish from ho-hum to oh, yum!
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ho hum
Adjective
Flat screens—ho hum, most CRTs long ago were relegated to the basement or the recycling center.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Jan. 2011
The distinction between being unique and ho hum is as thin as the crust.
—Bill Field, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2025
Interjection
Even one of the White House’s top economists, Stephan Miran, went on CNBC shortly after the report came out with a ho-hum analysis.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2025
The jalapeno pesto it’s bathed in transports the dish from ho-hum to oh, yum!
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ho hum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ho hum
Adjective
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The parasites get their names from the larvae, which look and act like screws, boring and twisting into their victim's flesh.—
Jon Brodkin,
ArsTechnica,
25 Aug. 2025
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In the early episodes, when everyone’s still getting to know each other, are the conversations boring?—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
24 Aug. 2025
Interjection
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Williams also recalled witnessing the Super Bowl crowd boo Taylor Swift when she was shown on the jumbotron cheering on her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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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
Adjective
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One instance sees a ghastly spectral soldier filling a stream with all the lost souls of the enemies the player has killed so far, but the battle itself is just a slow walk to the end that’s exhausting to trudge through.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
22 Aug. 2025
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New York lawmakers are proposing rules to humanely drive down the population of rats and other rodents, eyeing contraception and a ban on glue traps as alternatives to poison or a slow, brutal death.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Superman’s meh international returns can also be understood as reflective of the worldwide audience tiring of Hollywood’s cultural diktats.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
6 Aug. 2025
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With both sets of players tiring, the best chance of the 30-minute period would fall to substitute Salma Paralluelo, who could not divert Batlle’s cross towards goal from four yards out.—
Jamie Barton,
CNN Money,
27 July 2025
Adjective
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And so to their kits, which more often than not are just not especially interesting: take this away strip, with its mid-2000s retro styling and pleasant off-white piping, but is just…quite dull.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
24 Aug. 2025
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Harsh chemicals like bleach and ammonia can strip the finish and dull the surface, leaving the floor prone to scratches and other damage.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Jess: The curds themselves are crispy, but the toast is stupid.—
Jess Fleming,
Twin Cities,
22 Aug. 2025
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The dialogue wasn’t dumbed down and stupid comic book stuff.—
William Earl,
Variety,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Sharon Stone is giving her take on the Basic Instinct reboot in the works and sounds weary about it.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
18 Aug. 2025
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What weary American, accustomed to a life of big-box stores and gig work, wouldn’t be charmed by the opportunity to while away the hours at a table at an outdoor café instead of one in an all-night diner?—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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How old is Taylor Swift? Kelce was born Oct. 5, 1989 (that year sound familiar?), making the 35-year-old a Libra.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
The Enquirer,
28 Aug. 2025
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Successive administrations let the old broadcast arms of American government abroad — Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia — slide into well-meaning obsolescence.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ho hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ho%20hum. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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