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Synonym Chooser

How is the word mundane distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words earthly and worldly are common synonyms of mundane. While all three words mean "belonging to or characteristic of the earth," mundane suggests reference to the immediate and practical.

a mundane discussion of finances

In what contexts can earthly take the place of mundane?

While in some cases nearly identical to mundane, earthly often implies a contrast with what is heavenly or spiritual.

abandoned earthly concerns and entered a convent

How are the words worldly and mundane related?

Worldly and mundane both imply a relation to the immediate concerns and activities of human beings, worldly suggesting tangible personal gain or gratification.

worldly goods

Examples 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 mundane He was best known as a filmmaker — using his lens to unearth the tawdry, decayed and bizarre beneath the surface of mundane reality. Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2025 From the most mundane of everyday tasks to common work in large businesses, AI is here to make your life easier. Peter Guagenti, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025 The post has garnered more than 3.8 million views and thousands of comments, dividing the internet over what has long been considered a mundane detail of modern life. Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025 However, the main reason is much simpler and more mundane. Tim Freeman, The Conversation, 13 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for mundane 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mundane
Adjective
  • There’s no denying hip-hop’s effect on our everyday fiber.
    Alan Light, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Often, our everyday stressors feel never-ending, and the return to equilibrium becomes less than breezy.
    Marie Bladt, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • And though Chen maneuvers every temporal and geographical shift, efforts to convey the political context of each new era can outweigh character development, undercutting the emotional breadth this story carries.
    Kayla Maiuri, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
  • For leaders, introducing intentional financial, temporal, or otherwise constraints can reignite creativity and urgency within stagnant teams.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The dome will house the ELT, which aims to observe terrestrial exoplanets and their atmospheres, as well as measuring the expansion of the universe.
    Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 19 Jan. 2025
  • These aquatic, semiaquatic or terrestrial creatures are easily recognized thanks to their bony, cartilaginous shells and slow-pace movements.
    Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • IDrive sends you a physical, temporary storage device that works directly with the desktop app.
    Robert Anderson, PCMAG, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Ida sets out on a quest to find her own physical partner.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • However, they are immediately attacked by a ferocious creature that seems not fully animal, not fully human.
    EW.com, EW.com, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Animal lovers will enjoy horseback riding or visiting one of the area’s animal sanctuaries.
    Katie Seemann, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2023
Adjective
  • Contemporary sculptures of earthly Greek women were usually made from terra-cotta and depicted them clothed in tight cloaks.
    Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Jan. 2025
  • But as Iyer discovers, the monks aren’t blithely floating above earthly cares.
    Danny Heitman, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The adrenal glands produce various hormones, including adrenaline and noradrenaline, essential for different bodily functions.
    Dominique Fluker, Essence, 20 Jan. 2025
  • According to the Allen County Sheriff’s Department's online inmate information, Hudson, 23, is facing charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, reckless homicide and neglect of a dependent.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Designers like Mike Amiri, for example, brought vanity to the fore in a collection that looks more worldly than Casablanca and less compromising than recent Tom Ford.
    Julian Randall, Essence, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Picaresque, amusing, and brisk, this is a worldly hangout novel of 21st-century manners.
    Vogue, Vogue, 26 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near mundane

Cite this Entry

“Mundane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mundane. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mundane

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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