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
This is a show heavily interested in the way paranoia turns us all into weapons of mass destruction in our communities, especially when everyone’s looking to escape the ennui of their small-town blues.
—
Grace Byron, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
Han has used centuries of philosophy to deconstruct the current ennui of life online, but Pettman’s writing is more personal and sympathetic than Han’s aphoristic, self-effacing mode.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2025
But his best moments ditch the ennui and open up.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 3 Sep. 2025
Ironically, The Cure’s Robert Smith dealt with all this ennui in a simple lyric.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ennui
Grace Byron, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
Han has used centuries of philosophy to deconstruct the current ennui of life online, but Pettman’s writing is more personal and sympathetic than Han’s aphoristic, self-effacing mode.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2025
But his best moments ditch the ennui and open up.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 3 Sep. 2025
Ironically, The Cure’s Robert Smith dealt with all this ennui in a simple lyric.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ennui
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ennui
boredom
Noun
-
That at a certain point, the gooner will open his eyes, find himself in a room filled with lube but void of love, and decide that the boredom of staying in that room outweighs the fear of whatever lies beyond it.—
Daniel Kolitz,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
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And yes, there were occasional hijinks spurred by youthful boredom and restlessness.—
Scott Huver,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ennui.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ennui. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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