as in bore
someone or something boring
as neither candidate was willing to make an unequivocal statement about anything, the debate proved to be a complete yawn
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Recent Examples of yawn
Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
Chris and Jason are fun to look at, but their personalities give me an intense case of the yawns.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Oct. 2025
There are yawning divisions internally about the credibility of coverage, with many in the Jewish community attacking BBC News’ output as being anti-Israeli, pointing to failings, including Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, which was revealed to have been narrated by the child of a Hamas minister.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for yawn
Noun
The oohs and aahs over a 100-mph pitch have been replaced by yawns.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
Chris and Jason are fun to look at, but their personalities give me an intense case of the yawns.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
Verb
San Diego State led the Toreros by 24 at the break and yawned its way to an 87-54 win in the final preseason basketball exhibition for both schools.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Oct. 2025
There are yawning divisions internally about the credibility of coverage, with many in the Jewish community attacking BBC News’ output as being anti-Israeli, pointing to failings, including Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, which was revealed to have been narrated by the child of a Hamas minister.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for yawn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yawn
Noun
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After that, the phone bore no more location data.—
Dan Sullivan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Some resorts in the Mamanuca Islands are set to lose entire wings to the sea in the coming years, and drinking water in villages is already being infiltrated by salt from seawater seeping into ground bores.—
MIchelle Duff,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Nasal dilators are flexible devices designed to open the nostrils and improve airflow, often used to reduce snoring or ease nighttime breathing.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2026
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Sylvia, my copilot, snores softly.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The new shop’s coffee menu includes French press, cold brew, drip coffee, espresso and lattes, according to a menu on the front counter.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
5 May 2026
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To avoid powdery mildew, water the plants at the soil line with your hose or a drip line system and keep their leaves as dry as possible.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Skaggs, 27, snorted the pill and died in a Texas hotel room on July 1, 2019, choking on his own vomit.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
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The plucky kid who seemingly had a fast-track job and a beyond-dreams wife is now desperately snorting it all away.—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Each speech in Policy is time-limited; kids speak like gasping auctioneers to cram in arguments their opponents must try to rebut.—
Eli Durst,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Symptoms of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, resemble a cold, with a cough that usually worsens over weeks and can cause gasping, vomiting and difficulty breathing, the Pasadena Public Health Department said in a statement announcing the outbreak.—
Fedor Zarkhin,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In footage shared by the ABF, a sniffer dog could be seen sniffing a black suitcase and clear plastic bag.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
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Video released on Thursday, April 30, appears to show a police dog sniffing White House Correspondents' dinner accused shooter, Cole Tomas Allen, moments before shots were fired on Saturday, April 25.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Verb
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In front of them, warthogs snuffled around in the grass.—
Flora Stubbs,
Travel + Leisure,
8 July 2025
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Next to arrive is her disembodied trunk, with a mind of its own, snuffling out friends and enemies and food.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2024
Verb
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Many of the cats were underweight with bones showing, and some suffering from respiratory infections were wheezing and had discharge around their eyes and noses.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
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Noah, however, couldn't run the length of a football field without wheezing.—
Gail Sheehy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Yawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yawn. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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