Word of the Day
: November 1, 2021inane
play
adjective
ih-NAYN
What It Means
Inane means "lacking significance, meaning, or point." Synonyms are silly, empty, or insubstantial.
// The host of the show greeted the audience with inane, but funny, remarks.
inane in Context
"And because the leader insists 'There are no bad ideas,' everyone pipes up with inane or irrelevant suggestions." — Morey Stettner, The Investor's Business Daily, 24 Sept. 2021
Did You Know?
Inane suggests emptiness in thought or meaning, and as a noun it has similar use, as in "thoughts making excursions into the incomprehensible inane" (the example is attributed to the 17th-century philosopher John Locke). The noun is not often used nowadays, but the adjective fills the void.
Test Your Vocabulary with M-W Quizzes
Quiz
Fill in the blanks to complete a synonym of the adjective inane: f _ _ u _ u _.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
