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
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 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The oohs and aahs over a 100-mph pitch have been replaced by yawns.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
-
This method bore fruit, with a close relative of the DNA identified in 2025.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
-
As the North bore down on Saigon, Thieu begged for American financial support, but Congress was in no mood to pour more millions into the black hole of Southeast Asia.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For starters women with the condition may not even snore.—
Katie Camero,
SELF,
16 Apr. 2026
-
When Back Sleeping Isn’t the Move People with obstructive sleep apnea or chronic snoring should avoid it.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Working one at a time, dip cupcakes in warm chocolate glaze to coat all over, letting excess glaze drip back into bowl, then transfer cupcakes to bowl with coconut and toss to coat all over.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Both the drip tray and griddle are dishwasher-safe.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Natural Wonders the Whole Family Will Love Mount Rainier National Park in Washington is the kind of place that makes kids gasp.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Within a few weeks of starting the treatments, O’Neal was walking without gasping and talking without pausing to gobble air.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Orange County Public Health Services did not find just one mouse sniffing around for scraps.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
To sniff out the atomic hydrogen — the more diffuse, cooler gas that acts as the initial, sprawling reservoir for future star formation — the team harnessed the immense power of China's Five Hundred-metre Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST).—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 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
-
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
-
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 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
