boring

1 of 2

adjective

bor·​ing ˈbȯr-iŋ 

: causing weariness and restlessness through lack of interest : causing boredom : tiresome

a boring lecture

boringly

ˈbȯr-iŋ-lē 

adverb

boringness noun

boring

2 of 2

present participle of bore entry 1, bore entry 6

Synonyms of boring

Adjective

• tiring
• stupid
• dull
• slow
• old
• wearying
• weary
• dusty
• heavy
• dry
• annoying
• monotonous
• uninteresting
• tedious

Examples of boring in a Sentence

Adjective

I find her books totally boring.

I wish this book weren't so boring; I keep falling asleep whenever I try to read it.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

As a matter of fact, this will probably be one of the more boring editions of this column. — Gary Davenport, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Alice’s viewpoint is boring, and anyone who agonizes about it forever will never get to the interesting parts. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2026

The combination of the lace trim and ribbon laces adds up to a unique vibe, and each one of the four non-boring neutral color options is beautiful. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 14 Sep. 2026

But because a film shoot is kind of boring, most of us abandoned the ladders after an hour, leaving my brother to watch the rest of the filming alone. — Sarah Shanfield, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of bore entry 6

First Known Use

Adjective

1785, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing boring

• as boring as they come
• wood-boring

Rhymes for boring

• coring
• flooring
• poring
• pouring
• roaring
• scoring
• shoring
• snoring
• soaring
• storing
• warring
• whoring

Kids Definition

boring

adjective

bor·​ing ˈbō(ə)r-iŋ 

ˈbȯ(ə)r-

: causing boredom : uninteresting, tedious

boringly

-iŋ-lē 

adverb