BOREDOM Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

boredom

noun

ˈbȯr-dəm

Definition of boredom

as in restlessness

the state of being bored she spent that whole meeting in a state of complete boredom, waiting for lunch

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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 boredom Far fewer people can execute the same disciplines at the same standard through boredom, distraction, and difficult seasons. — Richard Ceffalio, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026 But she’s lost in boredom and monotony, caring for her husband who doesn’t love her and uses her as a servant. — Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026 Conversely, if the term is meant as an insult, then a critic should describe the underlying mechanisms which produce the boredom in question. — Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026 That’s a level of commitment that would make even a stalwart Zen meditator fidget with frustrated boredom. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for boredom

Recent Examples of Synonyms for boredom

Noun

With both of these planets transiting Air signs, there is a cerebral side to this alignment, presenting the opportunity to channel feelings of restlessness into something resourceful.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
Other common sleep issues that don’t affect the airways include movement disorders that cause nighttime restlessness or narcolepsy, a neurological disorder that affects the body’s sleep-wake cycles and causes excessive sleepiness.

— Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of restlessness

Noun

But John Bravender, a weather service warning coordination meteorologist, said 2026 has yielded a different type of weariness in Hawaii.

— John Raby, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
Speaking after Chelsea’s 3-2 win over Fulham on Monday, manager Xabi Alonso betrayed some weariness at the lack of closure.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of weariness

Noun

The question for me is whether or not Lloyd will also manage to capture the melancholy of a deceptively serious play, notwithstanding its reputation.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
On the one hand, there’s a fascination with collective joy and the forms of vernacular invention that aspire to it; on the other, there’s an underlying melancholy that points to the inevitability of isolation, an epistemology of loneliness.

— Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of melancholy

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bored

boredom

bore (down)

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“Boredom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boredom. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of boredom

noun

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