as in boredom
the state of being bored
the kind of ennui that comes from having too much time on one's hands and too little will to find something productive to do
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Recent Examples of ennui
There’s a little speed-thrills ennui among Dolphins fans after the previous era.
—
Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
But with LeBron James finally showing his age, and in no position to say no to someone like Dončić, the Lakers have gone all-in on the kid from Ljubljana, and the ennui that’s surrounding the team is palpable even in Northern California.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
Both the Times of London and the Daily Telegraph reviewed Newman’s book poorly, with an air of anti-woke ennui, accusing her of imposing contemporary moral standards on the vices of the past.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
Or, more to the point, director Grant Gee treats his 102 minutes of baroque ennui as the devil claiming his due.
—Ben Croll, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ennui
Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
But with LeBron James finally showing his age, and in no position to say no to someone like Dončić, the Lakers have gone all-in on the kid from Ljubljana, and the ennui that’s surrounding the team is palpable even in Northern California.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
Both the Times of London and the Daily Telegraph reviewed Newman’s book poorly, with an air of anti-woke ennui, accusing her of imposing contemporary moral standards on the vices of the past.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
Or, more to the point, director Grant Gee treats his 102 minutes of baroque ennui as the devil claiming his due.
—Ben Croll, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ennui
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ennui
boredom
Noun
-
Or rather, accepting boredom as a tool.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Much as varying your workouts can help prevent overuse injuries and boredom, regular rest days will enhance your overall health.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ennui.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ennui. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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