boring 1 of 3

adjective

ˈbȯr-iŋ How to pronounce boring (audio)
Definition of boringnext
as in tiring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest I wish this book weren't so boring; I keep falling asleep whenever I try to read it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

boring

2 of 3

verb (1)

present participle of bore
1
as in drilling
to make a hole or series of holes in some woodpecker bored holes in our tree in the backyard

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pushing
to force one's way with some effort, she bored through the throng of yelling protestors

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boring

3 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of bore
as in wearying
to make weary and restless by being dull or monotonous the professor's lifeless and unimaginative teaching style bored the students to death

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 boring
Adjective
Far fewer people stay responsible when the work turns boring, unclear or inconvenient, and that's precisely when ownership surfaces. — Somdutta Singh, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 While some foods contain higher levels than others, focusing solely on those with the highest levels can become tedious and boring in the long run. — Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 1 July 2026
Verb
Zoe Saldaña's latest look is proof that basics don't have to be boring. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 20 June 2026 And ultimately, the premise of the show is insane horror tropes are happening to boring, normal people. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for boring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boring
  1. tiring
  2. drilling
  3. pushing
  4. wearying
  5. stupid
  6. piercing
  7. squeezing
  8. exhausting
Adjective
  • The 90 minutes or more will be highly physical and tiring, and only one will remain standing at the end.
    — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 1 July 2026
  • The head coach was clumsy in his response, saying — in effect — that the player is better suited to being an impact substitute and taking advantage of tiring opposition defenders.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 26 June 2026
Definition of tiring
Verb
  • Environmental advocates warn the rollback puts wildlife on a path to extinction and vow court challenges as Washington presses for more Pacific Coast drilling over West Coast states’ objections.
    — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • The process converts solid rock directly into vapor, allowing drilling to continue into geological formations that are too hot and abrasive for traditional equipment.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026
Definition of drilling
Verb
  • More than 200 people were turned away at the door as the venue reached capacity, with several dozen protesters briefly pushing past security and forcing entry into the room.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • The combination of rising demand, tighter schedules and growing sensitivity to pet welfare is pushing more people toward mobile options.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
Definition of pushing
Verb
  • Bram, his husband, has a demanding job at a museum in Rotterdam and Arnold’s bitterness has grown wearying.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
  • Even for those spared personal catastrophe, the broader atmosphere has been wearying; institutions strained, norms eroded, tempers short.
    — Phillip Halpern, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Jan. 2026
Definition of wearying
Adjective
  • Even when Romanzy goes off on how stupid and ugly Caleb is — and gossips that his parents abandoned him because something must be wrong with him — Mary goes along with it.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 July 2026
  • Shockingly, the letter seems to be pushing for a return to standardized tests by, in effect, arguing that a growing percentage of their students are simply too stupid to succeed, no matter what professors do.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of stupid
Verb
  • Granite cliffs piercing the sea and the sky are Acadia National Park’s most recognizable feature.
    — Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
  • Her flat, piercing groundstrokes and booming serve are perfect for grass, and defending champion Świątek will need to calm down her serving roller coaster to stay in touch.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of piercing
Verb
  • The same rules reshaping the car are squeezing the independent aftermarket out of the picture.
    — Sarwant Singh, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Energy prices soared, squeezing Americans already frustrated by the high cost of living.
    — Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of squeezing
Verb
  • The two young women at the center of the chamber piece that is Fruit Gathering face more challenges than hard work in a monotonous environment, including exhausting work, economic uncertainty and social repression.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026
  • This convergence is a very encouraging sign, providing the first footprint of a structural trend change and indicating that the selling pressure from the recent rug pull is finally exhausting itself.
    — Nishant Pant, CNBC, 7 July 2026
Definition of exhausting

Browse Nearby Words

bore witness
boring
boringly
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Cite this Entry

“Boring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boring. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on boring

Nglish: Translation of boring for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about boring

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