1
2

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mundane distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words earthly and worldly are common synonyms of mundane. While all three words mean "belonging to or characteristic of the earth," mundane suggests reference to the immediate and practical.

a mundane discussion of finances

In what contexts can earthly take the place of mundane?

While in some cases nearly identical to mundane, earthly often implies a contrast with what is heavenly or spiritual.

abandoned earthly concerns and entered a convent

How are the words worldly and mundane related?

Worldly and mundane both imply a relation to the immediate concerns and activities of human beings, worldly suggesting tangible personal gain or gratification.

worldly goods

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 mundane In more mundane incidents during a flight, sitting near an emergency exit would allow passengers to disembark sooner than others. Colson Thayer, People.com, 18 June 2025 Hinton believes that jobs that perform mundane tasks will be taken over by AI, as roles like receptionists and customer service representatives are already vulnerable. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 17 June 2025 The Life of Chuck takes on a more mundane horror: the natural passing of time. Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 16 June 2025 The shooting stats also reveal a more mundane issue: The Thunder’s two best players have missed a ton of makable middies. John Hollinger, New York Times, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for mundane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mundane
Adjective
  • Maxo, on Mars Is Electric, also tinkers with his vocals more than ever, often pitching his voice up to make his everyday fears and anxieties a little distorted and conversational.
    Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 27 June 2025
  • Rare earths – essential in everything from everyday electronics to fighter jets – had become a key focus of trade frictions between the world’s two largest economies in recent weeks as their tit-for-tat tariff escalation morphed into a supply chain struggle.
    John Liu, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • While scholars like Resnik, Hosseini, Friesen, Floridi and Lin have proposed meaningful reforms, such as ethical AI education, diverse oversight and explainability principles, few focus on the evolving temporal relationship between humans and algorithms.
    Taposh Roy, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • For Lyell, the material and the organic worlds belong to categorically distinct temporal orders.
    Lewis Hyde, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • In this framing, Earth’s challenges become just another set of engineering problems, solvable by recreating terrestrial conditions elsewhere.
    Dr. Alex Gold, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • The predominant color in both hotels is white, but as their names imply, Stella Nova is accented with cooler tones and starry vibes while Terra Nova has warmer, more terrestrial theming.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • Draper repositioned from defining her thesis as childcare to the future of family, which includes the physical health and financial health of families, among other applications.
    Glen Luke Flanagan, Fortune, 27 June 2025
  • Managers can also address employees’ physical needs during change implementation.
    IESE Business School, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • In 2022, the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 paved the way for alternatives to animal testing, and in December 2023, an NIH advisory committee made similar recommendations to develop non-animal methods.
    Rachel Fobar, Vox, 14 May 2025
  • Rendering is a process that transforms animal by-products, like leftover meat and fats...and yes, chicken feet, into usable materials, such as animal feed, fuel, and other industrial products.
    Phil Kafarakis, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • The result is a project that transformed a site of heavenly aspirations into one of earthly delight.
    Justin Davidson, Curbed, 27 June 2025
  • Much like those on this earthly plane, the way to a spirit’s heart is through his or her stomach.
    Vanessa Anderson, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
Adjective
  • The charges include a Level 4 felony of operating while intoxicated causing death; Level 5 felonies of reckless homicide, criminal recklessness, driving while suspended causing death and Level 6 felonies of driving while suspended causing bodily injury and reckless driving.
    Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025
  • She was arraigned and charged with operating under the influence causing serious bodily injury, misleading a police investigation, and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash causing personal injury.
    Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Churches, synagogues, temples, mosques — these worldly shells stand as evidence of New York’s long history of diversity and change.
    Justin Davidson, Curbed, 27 June 2025
  • Dwayne Keith Project, a Hartford act fusing gospel, jazz and hip-hop. 8:30 to 10 p.m.: Khruangbin, the worldly psychedelic soul/rock/dub/pop trio from Houston, Texas.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mundane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mundane. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mundane

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!