inanity

noun

inan·​i·​ty i-ˈna-nə-tē How to pronounce inanity (audio)
plural inanities
1
: the quality or state of being inane: such as
a
: vapid, pointless, or fatuous character : shallowness
b
: lack of substance : emptiness
2
: something that is inane

Examples of inanity in a Sentence

quickly realized that her suggestion was an inanity and withdrew it the jaw-dropping inanity of the singer's comments on the awards show
Recent Examples on the Web The doctrine of fetal personhood—which says that a full human life begins at the fertilization of an egg—has obvious legal inanities built in regarding taxes, insurance, litigation, etc. Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2024 Despite the title, Barnet doesn’t convey the swing and rush of the present so much as its inanity. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2024 The trend has alternately delighted and enraged TikTok viewers, who either swoon over the romantic scenes at 35 degrees or fume at the apparent inanity of curating a space most people will never see. Scottie Andrew, CNN, 1 Sep. 2024 Naysayers ignored that talent in deference to the desiccated inanity of Marvel’s war-toy movies. Armond White, National Review, 7 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for inanity 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inanity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inanity was in 1603

Dictionary Entries Near inanity

Cite this Entry

“Inanity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inanity. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

inanity

noun
inan·​i·​ty in-ˈan-ət-ē How to pronounce inanity (audio)
plural inanities
1
: the quality or state of being inane
2
: something inane

More from Merriam-Webster on inanity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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