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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

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
  • When the ice eventually thawed, evolutionary activity picked up, and things weren’t so boring anymore.
    David Bressan, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
  • Nestled into a joke about how SNL is too boring if the rumor is true that everyone is on cocaine, Fleming hones in on Jost’s particular brand of bland mundanity.
    Vulture Staff, Vulture, 26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • But worrying about making your space look too childish can be tricky.
    Cristian Esteban, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2024
  • All the Jingle Ladies by Beth Garrod After her parents went viral with an earworm of a Christmas song (and music video featuring her childish antics), Molly has been a true Grinch.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The Boke character, which would be Johnson, is the one who will make a mistake on purpose, or make a stupid joke.
    Justin Koreis, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2024
  • Any Republican that would be so stupid as to do this should, and will, be Primaried.
    Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • By the way, Key limes are green when immature and yellow when ripe, further adding to the color confusion.
    Chadd Scott, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2024
  • Kids who are young for their grade are, almost by definition, more immature than their peers.
    Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • As for food, those tiring of tagine may be glad of the West African restaurants tucked away within the medina.
    Elle Benson Easton, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2024
  • That eliminates long, tiring road transfers, and allows more time in the bush.
    Holden Frith, The Week UK, theweek, 26 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • The man in the red-and-white top puts his left arm around an adolescent girl, her hair and blue pajamas coated in dust.
    Freddie Clayton, NBC News, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Areas of the brain that are important for thinking and regulating impulses and emotions are rapidly developing during the adolescent years, and are susceptible to the external influences of social media.
    Omer Awan, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Despite these efforts, progress has been slow, and concerns about systemic challenges persist.
    Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
  • Snow has been slow to arrive in Big Bear this year, but the long-term forecast calls for big changes.
    Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Ross’ novel approach tells Whitehead’s tale, based on true events, about two young Black men stuck in a wretched juvenile Florida reformatory school, the site of relentless and sometimes fatal abuse.
    Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2024
  • The result was a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty for his juvenile antics.
    Rob Reischel, Forbes, 31 Dec. 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 6 Jan. 2025.

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