Word of the Day

: November 1, 2021

inane

adjective ih-NAYN

What It Means

Inane means "lacking significance, meaning, or point." Synonyms are silly, empty, or insubstantial.   

// The host of the show greeted the audience with inane, but funny, remarks.

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inane in Context

"And because the leader insists 'There are no bad ideas,' everyone pipes up with inane or irrelevant suggestions." — Morey Stettner, The Investor's Business Daily, 24 Sept. 2021

Did You Know?

Inane suggests emptiness in thought or meaning, and as a noun it has similar use, as in "thoughts making excursions into the incomprehensible inane" (the example is attributed to the 17th-century philosopher John Locke). The noun is not often used nowadays, but the adjective fills the void.