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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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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for jejune
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Adjective
  • My hair is still thin, childish and deserving of the gentle wash that baby shampoo affords.
    John Hodgman, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
  • The pair settle right away into the half-affectionate, half-annoyed, goofy childish dynamic recognizable to adult siblings everywhere — to the amusement and occasional irritation of Frank, a locally beloved good old boy who’s only the teeny-tiniest bit prone to vanity and corruption.
    Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Adjective
  • Yet there’s nothing inherently immature about her voice.
    Judy Berman, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025
  • This reflects the struggle many women face with emotionally immature and irresponsible partners.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
  • Global, regional, and national prevalence of child and adolescent overweight and obesity, 1990–2021, with forecasts to 2050: a forecasting study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
  • In this Jersey club and trap fusion, the 13-year-old tenderly sings about the thrill of an adolescent love.
    Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The cut is also gaining ground on the Adult Contemporary chart, only at a much slower pace, which is not unusual for that list.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
  • Morgan Stanley also highlighted risks such as weaker consumption and a slower pace of enterprise digitalization.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Related Articles Broken bones, excessive force and drug overdoses: Inside Colorado’s juvenile detention facilities Colorado Democrats are ready to pass a sweeping gun control bill.
    Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Andrew — a former graduate student, whose name has been changed to protect him from harassment — left his position at a major US primate research center in 2022, after spending two years studying infectious diseases in juvenile monkeys.
    Celia Ford, Vox, 3 Mar. 2025
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 9 Mar. 2025.

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