1
as in insanity
a foolish act or idea
quickly realized that her suggestion was an inanity and withdrew it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in madness
lack of good sense or judgment
the jaw-dropping inanity of the singer's comments on the awards show
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inanity
The inanity and nihilism is still there, but tinged with something darker and more permanent, a sense that the rules of capitalism changed.
—
Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 19 Dec. 2025
On the other hand, there’s something soothing, even enjoyable, about the show’s glossy inanity.
—Daisy Jones, Vogue, 3 Dec. 2025
But that inanity, that ridiculousness is embedded in the story.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
For the past four years, Honan has been a worm in Adams’s apple, scoring scoop after scoop about the dramas, inanities, and intrigues of his administration.
—Eric Lach, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inanity
Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 19 Dec. 2025
On the other hand, there’s something soothing, even enjoyable, about the show’s glossy inanity.
—Daisy Jones, Vogue, 3 Dec. 2025
But that inanity, that ridiculousness is embedded in the story.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
For the past four years, Honan has been a worm in Adams’s apple, scoring scoop after scoop about the dramas, inanities, and intrigues of his administration.
—Eric Lach, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inanity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inanity
Noun
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Reiner’s lawyers may plead insanity as part of his defense in connection with a long history of drug use and other mental health disorders.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
23 Feb. 2026
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Los Angeles entertainment and trial lawyer Tre Lovell tells USA TODAY that Reiner will likely plead not guilty by reason of insanity.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Sopho derives from the Greek word for wisdom, mania from the Greek word for madness.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
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With all the madness going on out there, this is exactly the game the world needs right now.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Unlike its sibling concepts of dumbness and idiocy, stupidity isn’t really a personality trait.—
Jonny Thomson,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
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Harry and Finis refused to play Jack Donahoe’s game of commenting on every idiocy that came across their desks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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California’s Napa Valley is prized for its vineyard views and quiet country roads, which create a relaxed atmosphere that blends rural simplicity with polished sophistication.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
24 Feb. 2026
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Ohtani shortened the name to Decoy for simplicity.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The luckiest among us endure these quotidian absurdities indirectly, via news stories and social media feeds, their consequences delayed until sometime in the future.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
20 Feb. 2026
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Undermain Theatre’s production, directed by Stefan Novinski, leans into the 1942 Pulitzer-winning play’s absurdity and its theme of repetitive human folly, starting with Donna Marquet’s busy set design.—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The fact that that happened to us is insanity and craziness.—
Peter D'Oench,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
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Thank you for dealing with my craziness over the last couple months.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inanity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inanity. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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