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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
  • No more boring, irrelevant training modules—this is learning at the speed of work.
    Lisa Bodell, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Some of this may happen under cover of darkness, but much of it happens in the open, under cover of arcane technocracy or boring bureaucracy.
    Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The childish use of vulgar profanity simply leads peoople to view the speaker as being unable to express his/her view.
    Letters to the editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2025
  • One standout was Helena Bonham Carter’s Red Queen running around the palace like a childish tyrant.
    Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Making stupid internet fodder has never been easier than now, with the prevalence of AI image generators making everything from deepfakes to memes.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Much like the stupid prions wreaking havoc in his brain.
    David Oliver, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This doesn’t sound like their mess to clean up, and just sounds a bit immature/entitled.
    Latoya Gayle, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Children and adults pick up an avalanche of unreliable information on social media, and children may process it with immature judgment.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • View 6 Images Reading and writing on regular tablets can be tiring for your eyes, which is where E Ink can help.
    Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Ultimately, many on the internet have identified this week as a particularly tiring one for Black K-pop fans.
    Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Starring Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney as the sparring, intellectual parents to two adolescent sons (Jesse Eisenberg and Owen Kline), The Squid and the Whale responds to some of Baumbach’s own experiences as a product of divorce in the 1980s.
    Marley Marius, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2025
  • One of the main jobs of the adolescent human is to pull away from their parents in preparation for adulthood.
    Cyndy Etler, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The company reaffirmed plans to launch an affordable model in early 2025, but warned the production ramp could be slower than expected.
    Akash Sriram and Abhirup Roy, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The last two years have been incredibly slow, with existing home sales at their lowest levels since the mid-1990s.
    Laurel Wamsley, NPR, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Both Mike and Harriet were juvenile commissioners assigned by the city of San Francisco to mentor boys and girls.
    Erin Moriarty, Liza Finley, CBS News, 4 May 2025
  • Related Stories The result is a passably diverting curio that remains on the level of juvenile fantasy adventure, but with gratuitous elements inappropriate for younger viewers.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 2 May 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.

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Cite this Entry

“Jejune.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jejune. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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