as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
she leads a humdrum life that will never be made into a major motion picture a humdrum meal
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in monotony
a tedious lack of variety
loathed the humdrum of daily life in a small town
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of humdrum
David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2025
Christopher Walken Christopher Walken has a way of making even the most humdrum words sound like pure comedy gold.
—Shannon Carlin, TIME, 15 Feb. 2025
The humdrum, the humor, and the humanity in the documentary’s two dozen or so consultations is palpable, enlivening.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025
In an effort to take responsibility, Rico gets a job with a restaurant cleaning staff, but that humdrum routine only highlights the daunting prospect of raising a child, putting a strain in his relationships.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humdrum
Adjective
Entire sequences are devoted to tasks as humdrum as rebooting a ship’s computer (which involves untangling a lot of wires) and shepherding a little robotic sub to try retrieving Lemons, which resembles a very tense version of a fairground claw game.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2025
Christopher Walken Christopher Walken has a way of making even the most humdrum words sound like pure comedy gold.
—Shannon Carlin, TIME, 15 Feb. 2025
The humdrum, the humor, and the humanity in the documentary’s two dozen or so consultations is palpable, enlivening.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025
In an effort to take responsibility, Rico gets a job with a restaurant cleaning staff, but that humdrum routine only highlights the daunting prospect of raising a child, putting a strain in his relationships.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humdrum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humdrum
Adjective
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Belief that your institution is exempt from the hard, functional and often boring parts of the job leads to a slow decline.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
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Organizations that foster a culture of self-compassion can empower their employees to better navigate stress, maintain their well-being, and - perhaps boring but no less important - adhere to safety protocols.—
Ellen Choi,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
Noun
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The monotony of the yearlong (at least) grind to come back is draining.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 May 2025
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The monotony of the season can get to a player, and his goal has always been to make the work fun and intentional, not checking off a box.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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These guys have been touring for decades, never tiring of playing the hits even while steadily putting out albums full of new material.—
Emily Palmer Heller,
Vulture,
2 June 2025
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Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle sustains this tiring play style by deploying a 10-man rotation, allowing his players to stay fresh throughout high-intensity games.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Interestingly, this connection between boredom and satisfaction wasn’t linked to relationship conflicts or tension, meaning boredom alone can weaken a relationship over time.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
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Rather than rising up and killing its former masters, Murderbot just goes about performing its security work, relieving the boredom by watching a lot of entertainment media; its favorite is a soap opera called The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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The bittersweet result didn’t dull a remarkable career and legacy for Kelly.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
31 May 2025
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But the drama can be very stolid, borderline dull at times.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2025
Noun
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These come in every size, from twin to California king in a series of five neutrals, each perfect for a calm, monotone bedding moment.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
20 May 2025
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Some professors didn’t understand how to talk with audiences and were criticized for their monotone deliveries.—
Josh Shepperd,
The Conversation,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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Here in Croatia, the pace of life is slower, especially in smaller towns.—
Abdul Rehman,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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My spring crops were slow to develop this year, stifled by sporadic frosts and bouts of dry weather.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Santa Monica residents go to war against Waymo There’s a battle brewing in Santa Monica with a fleet of unmanned, electric Waymo vehicles on one side, and exhausted, weary locals on the other.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2025
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Reed thin and blonde, with the slouch of a weary royal, Kjær spent Tuesday afternoon directing his troops: five amateur dancers, recruited from clubs, who will perform at an opening on Saturday in a piece modeled on the firework displays at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Humdrum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humdrum. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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