as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
she leads a humdrum life that will never be made into a major motion picture a humdrum meal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in monotony
a tedious lack of variety
loathed the humdrum of daily life in a small town
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 humdrum
David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2025
Christopher Walken Christopher Walken has a way of making even the most humdrum words sound like pure comedy gold.
—Shannon Carlin, TIME, 15 Feb. 2025
The humdrum, the humor, and the humanity in the documentary’s two dozen or so consultations is palpable, enlivening.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025
In an effort to take responsibility, Rico gets a job with a restaurant cleaning staff, but that humdrum routine only highlights the daunting prospect of raising a child, putting a strain in his relationships.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humdrum
Adjective
Entire sequences are devoted to tasks as humdrum as rebooting a ship’s computer (which involves untangling a lot of wires) and shepherding a little robotic sub to try retrieving Lemons, which resembles a very tense version of a fairground claw game.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2025
Christopher Walken Christopher Walken has a way of making even the most humdrum words sound like pure comedy gold.
—Shannon Carlin, TIME, 15 Feb. 2025
The humdrum, the humor, and the humanity in the documentary’s two dozen or so consultations is palpable, enlivening.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025
In an effort to take responsibility, Rico gets a job with a restaurant cleaning staff, but that humdrum routine only highlights the daunting prospect of raising a child, putting a strain in his relationships.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humdrum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humdrum
Adjective
-
Corner infielders Carlos Santana (1B, CLE): The definition of boring and solid.—
Owen Poindexter,
New York Times,
13 June 2025
-
Much happens in the sixth episode, but most of it is pretty boring like the rest of this season.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Noun
-
Having an eye-catching element can help break up the monotony of an otherwise neutral color palette.—
Brett F. Braley-Palko,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
-
The monotony of the yearlong (at least) grind to come back is draining.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 May 2025
Adjective
-
Seeing that expansion and contraction over and over for six episodes (let alone three seasons) can grow tiring, and Season 3 certainly suffers from a sense of exhaustion.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
27 June 2025
-
Now in his 80s trips to the islands are more challenging, and maintaining a boat that can make the journey is expensive and tiring.—
Kathleen Rellihan,
Outside Online,
8 June 2025
Noun
-
Smoking often masks something deeper: stress, social anxiety, trauma, or even boredom.—
John Samuels,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
-
In fact, the broader legalization of cannabis for recreational and medical purposes has likely driven its boosted popularity and public image, leading many to see it as a relatively safe substance for relaxation and relief from stress, pain, and even boredom.—
Sam Walters,
Discover Magazine,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
And what often emerges instead is a dull kind of numbness, chronic irritability or total withdrawal.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
-
Get rid of dull and dirty razor heads (which should no longer be used) and pair your bathing supplies down to only the items that are used on a weekly basis.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
In a low, monotone voice, a downtrodden Ben Brown tried to explain another start that had gone awry.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
24 June 2025
-
His miniature sets brim with unsettling detail, and the uncanny monotone characters deliver deadpan lines that hit with precision.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
7 June 2025
Adjective
-
The music is, for the most part, quiet and slow, often hovering at the edge of silence.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
-
Repeated waxing weakens follicles, making hair grow in finer and slower over time.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
After dark, there’s a Midnight Snack cart delivering warm, comfort-food bites to weary red-eye travelers (because New York never sleeps, and neither do airport people).—
Paul Rubio,
AFAR Media,
23 June 2025
-
But others may hear Xi Jinping’s call not as a rallying cry but as a weary echo of the past.—
JOSEPH TORIGIAN,
Foreign Affairs,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Humdrum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humdrum. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share