MONOTONOUS Synonyms: 151 Similar and Opposite Words

monotonous

adjective

mə-ˈnä-tə-nəs

Definition of monotonous

as in boring

causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest the lecturer's monotonous delivery threatened to put us to sleep

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 monotonous Anything less is just monotonous. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 22 May 2026 Her set was a triumph, in part because her energetic delivery injected life into the proceedings after the show had slipped into a monotonous rhythm halfway through its bloated, nearly three-hour runtime. — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 12 May 2026 In the blueberry capital of Georgia, where flat coastal plains stretch out on either side of the road, there’s a good chance travelers will drive past fields of bushy blueberry crops growing in long, monotonous rows. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 10 May 2026 GalaxyBids emphasizes its unique position as an alternative to the traditional shopping sites that some may find dull or monotonous. — Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for monotonous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for monotonous

Adjective

The main goal of the Cliq earplugs design is to be a stylish alternative to a usually boring piece of gear.

— Jamie Spain, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026
Part ravioli, part lasagna, this one-skillet supper will save you from a boring Wednesday dinner.

— Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 8 July 2026

Definition of boring

Adjective

The 90 minutes or more will be highly physical and tiring, and only one will remain standing at the end.

— Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 1 July 2026
The head coach was clumsy in his response, saying — in effect — that the player is better suited to being an impact substitute and taking advantage of tiring opposition defenders.

— Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 26 June 2026

Definition of tiring

Adjective

Still, as the game wore on to the waning moments, both teams were visibly sapped of energy and moving at a slower pace, including Haaland, who faded late in the game, was subbed out at the 105-minute mark and replaced by Jorgen Strand Larsen.

— Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 12 July 2026
The question is whether the stock price leaves enough room if that recovery is slower, messier, or pricier than hoped.

— Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Definition of slow

Adjective

Even when Romanzy goes off on how stupid and ugly Caleb is — and gossips that his parents abandoned him because something must be wrong with him — Mary goes along with it.

— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 July 2026
Shockingly, the letter seems to be pushing for a return to standardized tests by, in effect, arguing that a growing percentage of their students are simply too stupid to succeed, no matter what professors do.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Definition of stupid

Adjective

England’s team plane touched down in Kansas City early Monday morning following a tough World Cup match, and weary players headed to their hotel in Prairie Village.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
Liberal return policies surged during the pandemic, with free return windows that can extend to as much as six months, as lockdown-weary shoppers drove an e-commerce boom.

— Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 9 July 2026

Definition of weary

Adjective

Their Victorian house looks preposterous in this dusty hamlet.

— Judy Berman, Time, 9 July 2026
Miners flooded the dusty flats surrounding this area after three Irish prospectors, who had immigrated to Australia in the hopes of making their fortunes, accidentally stumbled across gold while looking for water in 1893.

— Justin Meneguzzi, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

Definition of dusty

Adjective

Meek, a 10-year-old Black girl, is grappling with her fears of nuclear Armageddon as more prosaic domestic concerns kick into high gear.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
However, that is changing as the US Department of Defense seeks more robust, less vulnerable power systems for military satellites that are less hazardous than the older spacecraft powered by uranium and plutonium.

— David Szondy July 07, New Atlas, 8 July 2026

Definition of old

Browse Nearby Words

monotone

monotonous

monotonousness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Monotonous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monotonous. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of monotonous

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on monotonous

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

implacable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes