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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for jejune
Adjective
  • Hunter: The Reckoning puts players in the role of regular people who know monsters are real and can’t go back to their old, boring lives.
    Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • Take away the road courses or boring ovals and race more street courses.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025
Adjective
  • The exchange ended with both men accusing the other of acting childish.
    Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 26 June 2025
  • Compiled from Candace Bushnell’s column of the same name from The New York Observer, the book is a dark and bizarre look at dating in 1990s New York, where men are pathologically childish, cruel, and self-centered, and women are domineering, striving, and manipulative.
    Alice Bolin June 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • And some stupid Republicans, and foolish Republicans, fall into the net.
    ABC News, ABC News, 20 July 2025
  • The film ends with Lady Susan setting herself up in a kind of throuple, although one member of the ménage is too stupid to be so informed.
    Tom Gliatto, People.com, 19 July 2025
Adjective
  • At the very worst, an immature 18-year-old makes a horrific decision on a whim to deface his or her torso with a tableau of repulsive images that could potentially cause medical complications later in life.
    Scott Liftman, Boston Herald, 25 July 2025
  • The researchers showed how the interplay between a baby's rising sleep pressure and immature circadian rhythms can create seemingly erratic nap behavior that, in reality, follows a mathematically predictable pattern.
    Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • For starters, the daily office routine was more tiring than what I was accustomed to back in Israel.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 July 2025
  • So 22 years ago, when her mother was pregnant with her older sister, the couple made a long and tiring trek across the border to the US.
    Jennifer Hauser, CNN Money, 17 July 2025
Adjective
  • Globally, obesity in adults has more than doubled since 1990, with adolescent rates quadrupling, the World Health Organization reported.
    Sara Chernikoff, USA Today, 23 July 2025
  • Cutting between the two timelines, Washington Black bears witness simultaneously to the very first steps in Wash’s adolescent coming-of-age, and the finishing stages of it.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2025
Adjective
  • Without automation, errors are common and reimbursement is slow.
    Duke Chung, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • Skin Conditions Dry, itchy skin, and wounds or cuts that are slow to heal can be a sign of hyperglycemia.
    Barbie Cervoni, Verywell Health, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • In fact, juvenile arrests for violent felonies — including many in and around transit — increased in both 2023 and 2024, but these offenses were largely excluded from public crime data.
    Marc Molinaro, New York Daily News, 25 July 2025
  • On the morning of the robberies, according to court documents, there were text messages between Toombs and a person believed to be the juvenile, planning to rob mail carriers that day.
    Hailey Roden, The Enquirer, 24 July 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 30 Jul. 2025.

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