yawn 1 of 2

Definition of yawnnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

yawn

2 of 2

verb

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 yawn
Noun
Even though the official Survivor 49 pre-merge emoji might be a big fat yawn (or, perhaps a chicken screaming for mercy), there are signs that Probst did not even need to give his pre-challenge pep talk. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025 Marco Rubio, one arm flung over the back of his chair, made no attempt to disguise a yawn. Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 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 Chisholm was caught by Fox cameras yawning on the field. Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for yawn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yawn
Noun
  • Court records viewed by NBC News revealed that the sequence of events that left Ross bloodied and bruised bore some similarities to the scenario that ended with Good’s death.
    Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Games that are too easy bore older players, while overly complex games can frustrate younger ones.
    Clarissa Brincat, Popular Science, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Grandpa snoring near the fireplace, kids watching Rudolph.
    Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Dec. 2025
  • This time, the dog fell asleep on the couch right next to the window, snoring the day away.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Drip faucets correctly Set faucets to a slow, steady drip rather than a stream to conserve water while preventing freezing.
    Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Aim for a slow, steady trickle of about one drip every three seconds or at least five drops per minute.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Other episodes of the series will follow a bodybuilder obsessed with having a bulky physique, a woman who blends and snorts all her food, individuals addicted to eating grass, makeup and cardboard, and even a veteran with PTSD who filled his home with more than a hundred snakes.
    Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 17 Dec. 2025
  • The sow bounced forward a couple of times, snorting.
    William D. Brown, Outdoor Life, 13 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Thompson gasped loudly as the injection began taking effect, according to The Associated Press, before taking about a dozen breaths that turned into snoring sounds.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • As the injection began taking effect, Thompson gasped loudly, then took about a dozen breaths that evolved into three snores.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • This Heat roster doesn’t have a player who will even sniff the third team.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
  • The drone is being designed to allow for equipping it with additional sensing gear to do things like sniff out gases produced by fires, and measure outside temperatures.
    Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • In front of them, warthogs snuffled around in the grass.
    Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025
  • 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
  • The main symptoms are wheezing, difficult breathing and fever.
    Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Southampton gave it a good go last season, but ultimately fell short, wheezing over the line with 12.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Yawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yawn. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.

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