boredom

noun

bore·​dom ˈbȯr-dəm How to pronounce boredom (audio)
Synonyms of boredomnext
: the state of being weary and restless through lack of interest
the boredom of a long car trip

Examples of boredom in a Sentence

On days when few customers came to shop, Bob felt overwhelmed by boredom. the boredom of a long car trip
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The father, Man, prattles on about mowing the lawn, painting the fence, and managing their orchard’s irrigation, while the son periodically falls off his chair from boredom. Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025 Grab one of these the next time chicken boredom hits. Jillian Kubala, Health, 12 Dec. 2025 The experience of reading can benefit from the rockier mental terrain that books provide; the boredom and impatience that longer texts sometimes inspire can help push and prod one’s thinking more than things that are perfectly distilled. Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2025 Turn your dashboard into an entertainment hub that solves road trip boredom. New Atlas, 27 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for boredom

Word History

Etymology

bore entry 5 + -dom

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of boredom was in 1853

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boredom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boredom. Accessed 18 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

boredom

noun
bore·​dom ˈbō(ə)rd-əm How to pronounce boredom (audio)
ˈbȯ(ə)rd-
: the state of being bored

More from Merriam-Webster on boredom

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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