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
James Poniewozik, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
These plants have long been a landscape staple, especially as an evergreen foundation plant, to the point where they were seen as pedestrian and a little ho-hum.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2025
Sunday was about as ho-hum as a dominant performance could be.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025
In fact, contrary to California’s glitzy image, Reagan and Schwarzenegger are the odd men out in a long line of drab, largely ho-hum candidates who have been elected to the state’s top office.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ho-hum
Adjective
But neither was there the ho-hum, dutiful lassitude that usually accompanies second inaugurations, like Barack Obama’s in 2013.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
These plants have long been a landscape staple, especially as an evergreen foundation plant, to the point where they were seen as pedestrian and a little ho-hum.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2025
Sunday was about as ho-hum as a dominant performance could be.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025
In fact, contrary to California’s glitzy image, Reagan and Schwarzenegger are the odd men out in a long line of drab, largely ho-hum candidates who have been elected to the state’s top office.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ho-hum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ho-hum
Adjective
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Then Saturday, Columbus sputtered to a disappointing (and boring) scoreless draw at home against the Houston Dynamo, one of the weakest MLS teams.—
Andrew King,
Axios,
11 Mar. 2025
-
Literature that doesn’t contain its own version of this deal—literature that tries to freeze-frame reality instead of transmuting it—is often boring, even alienating.—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2025
Interjection
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Highlights include a costume parade (for kids and parents), a Purim story and boo Haman and songs.—
Linda McIntosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2024
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Volunteer yourself to help with X, Y and Z accommodations if that lightens the family’s workload, without saying boo about the couple’s choices.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
18 Jan. 2024
Adjective
-
The 2024-25 Bruins are slow, short on skill, inconsistent on defense and diminished in net.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
The Athletic,
8 Mar. 2025
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In Ukraine, the Biden administration’s timid slow rolling of weapons and ammunition deprived Ukraine of its best chance of victory, forcing it for years to fight with one hand behind its back.—
Jamie McIntyre,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Follow the money: The stock market, for one, is tiring of such shenanigans.—
Felix Salmon,
Axios,
7 Mar. 2025
-
In Aurora, voters seem to be tiring of two-term incumbent Republican Richard Irvin, who was the top vote getter but got just 38%.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The fight was very dull and Ankalaev most held his way to the victory.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
-
Without their alternate selves to tug at them, these characters would be dull, dull, dull.—
Katy Waldman,
The New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
When Luca pulls a gun on him, ordering him to drive, Spencer quickly disarms him and then slaps him for the stupid move.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
9 Mar. 2025
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Indexing gives you a better chance to ‘be less stupid.’ — Investment advisor Barry Ritholtz Those dismal statistics come to us via the latest annual SPIVA scorecard (the acronym stands for Standard and Poor’s Index vs. Active).—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Americans have grown weary; not just of the news, but also of the entire miserable chore of learning about it.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
25 Feb. 2025
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That reputation began in 70 C.E. when the mineral springs were directed into a massive bathhouse for weary Roman soldiers.—
Cat Sposato,
AFAR Media,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Every year in the US, there are approximately 35,000 ER visits due to unintentional medication overdoses among children under 5 years old.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN,
1 Mar. 2025
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The other part of him, the innie, is for all intents and purposes 2 1/2 years old.—
Gary Levin,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ho-hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ho-hum. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
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