humdrum

adjective

hum·​drum ˈhəm-ˌdrəm 

: monotonous, dull

humdrum noun

Synonyms of humdrum

• boring
• tiring
• dull
• slow
• wearying
• weary
• old
• stupid
• dusty

Examples of humdrum in a Sentence

She liked the movie, but I thought it was humdrum.

another humdrum day at the office

Recent Examples on the Web

What began as a nascent fascination with the material’s ease of use soon grew into a fine art practice, one that asks viewers to see the humdrum artifacts of daily life in a new, playful way. — Lilyanna D'amato, ARTnews.com, 22 July 2026

Keep a jar of this Parmesan-herb vinaigrette in your fridge for salads or to make a humdrum turkey or salami sandwich taste like one from your neighborhood deli. — Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 26 June 2026

Occasionally, Profound plays like the soundtrack for a humdrum indie-comedy set in a beautiful, remote location. — Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026

Making federal rules can take months of debate in humdrum bureaucratic processes. — ABC News, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

reduplication of hum

First Known Use

1553, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for humdrum

• become
• checksum
• income
• outcome
• pisum
• succumb
• therefrom
• wherefrom
• abomasum
• bum
• chum
• come

Kids Definition

humdrum

adjective

hum·​drum ˈhəm-ˌdrəm 

: monotonous sense 2, dull