1
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest another moralizing tale filled with jejune platitudes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word jejune distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of jejune are banal, flat, inane, insipid, and vapid. While all these words mean "devoid of qualities that make for spirit and character," jejune suggests a lack of rewarding or satisfying substance.

a jejune and gassy speech

When might banal be a better fit than jejune?

While the synonyms banal and jejune are close in meaning, banal stresses the complete absence of freshness, novelty, or immediacy.

a banal tale of unrequited love

Where would flat be a reasonable alternative to jejune?

While in some cases nearly identical to jejune, flat applies to things that have lost their sparkle or zest.

although well-regarded in its day, the novel now seems flat

In what contexts can inane take the place of jejune?

The words inane and jejune are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inane implies a lack of any significant or convincing quality.

an inane interpretation of the play

When is insipid a more appropriate choice than jejune?

The words insipid and jejune can be used in similar contexts, but insipid implies a lack of sufficient taste or savor to please or interest.

an insipid romance with platitudes on every page

When would vapid be a good substitute for jejune?

In some situations, the words vapid and jejune are roughly equivalent. However, vapid suggests a lack of liveliness, force, or spirit.

an exciting story given a vapid treatment

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for jejune
Adjective
  • Black Friday Saks Fifth Avenue Jewelry Deals Basics don’t have to be boring—and this Black Friday, why not restock your everyday essentials?
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 29 Nov. 2024
  • Winner of the Locarno Jury Prize, this daring essay-film is radical and often bleak but, even at its nearly 3-hour run time, never boring.
    Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Instead, too many people are willing to write off his childish, mean-spirited antics by saying, well, Trump's just being Trump.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2024
  • With each day, the boy’s instinctive interest in natural history transcended his childish thirst for adventure.
    Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • The big choices characters do make are all almost incomprehensibly stupid.
    Erik Kain, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
  • Nobody directing people and stupid mazes with limited entrances.
    Pete Sampson, The Athletic, 23 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • During the show’s run, Kevin was sometimes considered selfish and immature, especially when compared to some of the gentler members of the Pearson clan.
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024
  • Adult human beings—even the callous, tone-deaf, emotionally immature ones—demonstrate an understanding of death that is remarkable in its sophistication.
    Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • This somewhat surprising 8,600 improvement may be consumers tiring of online commerce and wanting to get out to shop.
    Jonathan Lansner, Orange County Register, 28 Nov. 2024
  • But fights about politics — or simply not knowing what to say — can sometimes make for a tiring experience.
    Natasha Frost, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The company highlighted the initiation of an adolescent/adult cohort for its NGN-401 clinical trial for Rett syndrome and announced positive interim clinical data.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 18 Nov. 2024
  • Christ stands with arms folded, eyes narrowed—a perfect image of sulking adolescent defiance.
    Christian K. Kleinbub, ARTnews.com, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • However, Prince William wants to take things very slow for his wife to ease her back into normalcy.
    Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 22 Nov. 2024
  • The shutter speed of the 6X zoom is relatively slow in low light conditions, resulting in blurry shots more often than with, say, the Vivo X200 Pro.
    Ben Sin, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Texas juvenile detention centers have a decadeslong history of violations and abuses, which began to be uncovered in the early 2000s by Texas newspapers.
    Bianca Moreno-Paz, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
  • The decision on Monday by Milwaukee County Juvenile Court Judge Jane V. Carroll gives direction to the case; the child's defense lawyers argued for months was more appropriate for the juvenile system.
    Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 18 Nov. 2024
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Jejune.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jejune. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

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