1
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest another moralizing tale filled with jejune platitudes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

Synonym Chooser

How is the word jejune distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of jejune are banal, flat, inane, insipid, and vapid. While all these words mean "devoid of qualities that make for spirit and character," jejune suggests a lack of rewarding or satisfying substance.

a jejune and gassy speech

When might banal be a better fit than jejune?

While the synonyms banal and jejune are close in meaning, banal stresses the complete absence of freshness, novelty, or immediacy.

a banal tale of unrequited love

Where would flat be a reasonable alternative to jejune?

While in some cases nearly identical to jejune, flat applies to things that have lost their sparkle or zest.

although well-regarded in its day, the novel now seems flat

In what contexts can inane take the place of jejune?

The words inane and jejune are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inane implies a lack of any significant or convincing quality.

an inane interpretation of the play

When is insipid a more appropriate choice than jejune?

The words insipid and jejune can be used in similar contexts, but insipid implies a lack of sufficient taste or savor to please or interest.

an insipid romance with platitudes on every page

When would vapid be a good substitute for jejune?

In some situations, the words vapid and jejune are roughly equivalent. However, vapid suggests a lack of liveliness, force, or spirit.

an exciting story given a vapid treatment

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for jejune
Adjective
  • The main reason Jacksonville is so boring, FinanceBuzz found, is that much of its population is thinly scattered across the city.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
  • GoPro has also dropped a white version and a forest green version if black is too boring for you.
    Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • The exchange ended with both men accusing the other of acting childish.
    Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 26 June 2025
  • Compiled from Candace Bushnell’s column of the same name from The New York Observer, the book is a dark and bizarre look at dating in 1990s New York, where men are pathologically childish, cruel, and self-centered, and women are domineering, striving, and manipulative.
    Alice Bolin June 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • Instead, the series seems determined to prove that age is just a number by forcing its leads, now including Choudhury and Parker, to act as if 50 is the new (and very stupid) 30.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025
  • Jurassic Park, based on the Michael Crichton best-seller, is an evolutionary joke: Man, the master of the universe, has become mere flesh, consumed by animals allegedly too stupid to survive.
    David Denby, Vulture, 3 July 2025
Adjective
  • There are three immature stages that are black and white, with the fourth stage being red, black and white before becoming adults later in the summer.
    Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 14 July 2025
  • To be effective the spray has to cover the immature stages.
    Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • Dickinson led off the semifinal game and roped a double off his metal bat that Smith said woke him up from a long, tiring day.
    Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 8 July 2025
  • After a tiring day walking around the parks, the most relaxing, soothing and healing experience is to sit out on the decks of the treehouse.
    Kissa Castaneda, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • Whatever the answer, the most enjoyable parts of Friday’s concert offered more than just a chance for attendees to revisit their adolescent years in song by channeling anew feelings of young love, longing and fresh-faced angst.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2025
  • And a study published in The Lancet that examined the prevalence of adolescent depression among English youth suggested that increased sedentary behavior in adolescence could affect a person’s mental health into adulthood.
    Henry Abbott, The Atlantic, 12 July 2025
Adjective
  • Skin Conditions Dry, itchy skin, and wounds or cuts that are slow to heal can be a sign of hyperglycemia.
    Barbie Cervoni, Verywell Health, 15 July 2025
  • Without automation, errors are common and reimbursement is slow.
    Duke Chung, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • This also means Krypto the Superdog is decidedly juvenile, owing more in spirit to shows like A Pup Named Scooby-Doo than any Superman cartoon produced in the last 40 years.
    Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 11 July 2025
  • At least three juvenile suspects are mentioned in the report, including Valle, who was suspected of having a knife.
    Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 10 July 2025
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Jejune.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jejune. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on jejune

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!