as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
the characterizations are good, but the plot is just ho-hum
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ho-hum
Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
In any season, the mall brand’s clothes are reliably on-point, but its range of sweaters, jeans, boots, and dresses has inspired me to revamp my ho-hum winter wardrobe.
—Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
Bill Field, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2025
Depending on whether the context is stable (everyday ho hum) or unstable (e.g., COVID-19; tariff wars; geopolitical instability etc.), the cues that get signalled and the way leaders signal these messages change.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ho-hum
Adjective
The January jobs report is due out next Friday, with analysts forecasting another ho-hum 50,000 job gains.
—Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
In any season, the mall brand’s clothes are reliably on-point, but its range of sweaters, jeans, boots, and dresses has inspired me to revamp my ho-hum winter wardrobe.
—Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
Interjection
The distinction between being unique and ho hum is as thin as the crust.
—Bill Field, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2025
Depending on whether the context is stable (everyday ho hum) or unstable (e.g., COVID-19; tariff wars; geopolitical instability etc.), the cues that get signalled and the way leaders signal these messages change.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ho-hum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ho-hum
Adjective
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Endless gastronomic delights, diverse architecture, and neighborhoods packed with character ensure visitors have everything but a boring trip to the large coastal metropolis.—
Lydia Price,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Who says neutrals have to be boring?—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But that boost also didn’t last long – 2025 was marked mostly by Russia’s slow, grinding offensive along the 1,200-kilometer-long frontline.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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Implementing peace deals is notoriously difficult, so slow progress can be expected.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Imagine having all your bags unpacked, slipping into a robe and getting ready to take a long, hot shower at the end of a tiring day, only to realize that your showerhead is broken or the hot water isn’t heating appropriately.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
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And while the offense was flowing, the defense was suffocating a quickly tiring San Jose State squad.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Being in my late 50s, getting cosmetic treatments to tackle sagginess, wrinkles, fine lines, and a dull complexion has certainly crossed my mind.—
Cathy Nelson,
InStyle,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Wipe off any excess so the pan looks dull, not shiny.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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And to be perfectly fair, nervous gratuitous laughter at stupid jokes is not unknown among anyone, including the press corps.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
24 Feb. 2026
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Above all else, avoid the stupid mistakes that lead to injury, illness, and evacuation from the game.—
Kristen Geil,
Outside,
24 Feb. 2026
Interjection
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The new iPad Pro marks the point midway between the way things were (Bezel? Yuck!) and the way they soon will be (Nothing but screen.—
David Pierce,
WIRED,
12 June 2017
Adjective
-
While the weary court composer is buried in the bureaucracy of state music, teaching scores of pupils, serving on endless committees and composing anthems and choral pieces, Mozart is dashing off works of startling originality while acting like a complete goofball.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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Enter energetic young Cristian (Escobar) and his weary-faced father (Hugo Ramírez), unworldly out-of-towners in need of temporary accommodation near the city hospital where the boy’s mother is undergoing long-term cancer treatment.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Neon Grove is designed for ‘tweens between seven and 12 and The Underground is reserved for teens up to 17 years-old.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
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And maybe — just maybe — that older child will pull them into the celebration instead of pushing them away.—
Peter Folan,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ho-hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ho-hum. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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