Definition of mundanenext
1
2

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mundane distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words earthly and worldly are common synonyms of mundane. While all three words mean "belonging to or characteristic of the earth," mundane suggests reference to the immediate and practical.

a mundane discussion of finances

In what contexts can earthly take the place of mundane?

While in some cases nearly identical to mundane, earthly often implies a contrast with what is heavenly or spiritual.

abandoned earthly concerns and entered a convent

How are the words worldly and mundane related?

Worldly and mundane both imply a relation to the immediate concerns and activities of human beings, worldly suggesting tangible personal gain or gratification.

worldly goods

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of mundane The objects may appear mundane on the surface, but archaeologists can learn a lot from them. Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 13 Aug. 2026 All of them are concerned with legacy, particularly among fathers and daughters (Shakespeare had two and lost his only son), and all of them touch a realm beyond the mundane — a place of gods and dreams, oracles and enchantment. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026 Might that be because this particular partner would include politicians prone to grandstanding — or, alternatively, focused more on mundane issues such as schools and crime than on horse racing? Stephen J. K. Walters, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026 Hagerty is not content to stick with strictly mundane crops, however. Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mundane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mundane
Adjective
  • For Garfield, the story’s themes of nature, imagination and community feel especially timely as technology increasingly shapes everyday life.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • According to Disney, guests will have the chance to explore the city, meet its citizens, taste unique cuisine, and step into the everyday world of monsters in a totally new way.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 16 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The study also establishes Cygnus X-3 as the first ultra-high-energy gamma-ray source known to show temporal variability.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Aug. 2026
  • In the first, eight dogs viewed happy and neutral faces, and happy faces triggered a stronger response in a region of the right temporal cortex extending into the caudate nucleus.
    Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Unlike terrestrial data centers, repairs or replacement could require another launch.
    Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Plants themselves evolved from ancient green algal ancestors, eventually spreading across nearly every terrestrial environment.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • But if physical and digital watermarks were meant to verify authenticity, AI watermarks serve more to signal inauthenticity.
    Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, focus on physical barriers and habitat modification.
    Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 19 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Vegetable Oils Vegetable and seed oils are some of the richest non-animal dietary sources of CoQ10.
    Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 16 July 2026
  • Computer models and other non-animal testing methods still aren’t the best available science, critics contend.
    Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026
Adjective
  • The eagerly anticipated new Los Angeles museum will welcome earthly visitors on September 22.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, Farage's main opponent is Count Binface, a political satirist posing as a comic space alien, with a keen interest in earthly matters, including the positioning of a hand dryer in the men's toilet in a pub in west London.
    ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • If the Baby Einstein products were meant to introduce babies to high culture, from the music of Beethoven and Mozart to the art of da Vinci and van Gogh, many of the STEM board books seem to have more worldly goals.
    Elise Broach, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Rachel Cusk’s new novel, Life of M, is the story of an incredible woman — an actress, both beautiful and smart, who is worldly and curious and bafflingly friends with the narrator, despite all of those things.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The judge dismissed a misdemeanor charge of simple assault against Kissinger, saying that there had been no bodily injury.
    Robert D. Mcfadden, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The suspect, 32-year-old Sergio Rivera-Vega, was also charged with arson causing great bodily injury and is being held without bail.
    Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mundane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mundane. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on mundane

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!