as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
the characterizations are good, but the plot is just ho-hum
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Recent Examples of ho-hum
Tim Graham, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025
In fact, contrary to California’s glitzy image, Reagan and Schwarzenegger are the odd men out in a long line of drab, largely ho-hum candidates who have been elected to the state’s top office.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Cook Time: 1 hr Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
Servings:
4
Jump to Nutrition Facts
Just a decade or two ago, chicken dinners often had a reputation as ho-hum and perhaps even a little bland.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Dec. 2024
While ho-hum in isolation, those plays together served as a representation of how the uniquely gifted Towns has elevated the Knicks’ high-powered offense.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 6 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ho-hum
Adjective
Sunday was about as ho-hum as a dominant performance could be.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025
In fact, contrary to California’s glitzy image, Reagan and Schwarzenegger are the odd men out in a long line of drab, largely ho-hum candidates who have been elected to the state’s top office.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Cook Time: 1 hr Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
Servings:
4
Jump to Nutrition Facts
Just a decade or two ago, chicken dinners often had a reputation as ho-hum and perhaps even a little bland.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Dec. 2024
While ho-hum in isolation, those plays together served as a representation of how the uniquely gifted Towns has elevated the Knicks’ high-powered offense.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 6 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ho-hum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ho-hum
Adjective
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The whole thing also looks pretty—budget and midrange phones tend to be super boring, but the Pixel 8A has a smart design with a matte rear texture.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
28 Feb. 2025
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Buck is a loquacious, glad-handing oaf who has a boring way with a witty story, and is marked for death.—
Fred Schruers,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 2025
Interjection
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Highlights include a costume parade (for kids and parents), a Purim story and boo Haman and songs.—
Linda McIntosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2024
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Volunteer yourself to help with X, Y and Z accommodations if that lightens the family’s workload, without saying boo about the couple’s choices.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
18 Jan. 2024
Adjective
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Morgan Stanley also highlighted risks such as weaker consumption and a slower pace of enterprise digitalization.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
23 Feb. 2025
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While there, we were met with a slower pace of life, more affordable off-season rates, and fewer crowds.—
Katie Lockhart,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This Atlético Madrid side is going from strength to strength and is showing little sign of tiring even as the pressure heats up.—
Sam Leveridge,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
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The first few years of being a parent can be among the most tiring as moms and dads try and often fail to get infants into a regular routine of unbroken sleep at night.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Preview Robert De Niro's Netflix thriller 'Zero Day' is a starry but dull dud: Review Patrick Schwarzenegger is 'White Lotus' Season 3 breakout, and dad Arnold is pumped Donnie Wahlberg is heading to 'Blue Bloods' Boston spinoff Ralph Macchio and William Zabka were 'Karate Kid' rivals.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA TODAY,
25 Feb. 2025
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This portable, rollerball serum can be used twice a day on dull, uneven, and post-blemish skin.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Thank you Hallie for thinking of me and putting my name in your stupid brother's ear.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
24 Feb. 2025
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That would have been a stupid question just about anywhere else, but the exhibition was by Laura Owens, a painter with a penchant for trickery, and the venue was Matthew Marks Gallery in New York, whose press release for Owens’s latest outing offered little in the way of explanation.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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That reputation began in 70 C.E. when the mineral springs were directed into a massive bathhouse for weary Roman soldiers.—
Cat Sposato,
AFAR Media,
26 Feb. 2025
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On their way out of town, a Pale Rider on a horse – Death himself – saunters by in front of their car, with Hal giving the weary figure a small, knowing nod.—
Brian Truitt,
USA TODAY,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Sam Nivola as Lochlan Ratliff: The high school senior, Timothy and Victoria's youngest, is pulled between following the life path of his older sister and brother while deciding his major life decision: Whether to go to Duke or the University of North Carolina.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA TODAY,
18 Feb. 2025
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Freezing temperatures can pose health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups such as infants and older adults.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ho-hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ho-hum. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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