as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
the characterizations are good, but the plot is just ho-hum
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ho-hum
Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
And while such mechanical underpinnings may seem ho-hum in our jaded age of hypercar performance, the 250 GT Lusso boasts a shape that remains unmatched in the history of Italian cars.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2026
Bill Field, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2025
Depending on whether the context is stable (everyday ho hum) or unstable (e.g., COVID-19; tariff wars; geopolitical instability etc.), the cues that get signalled and the way leaders signal these messages change.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ho-hum
Adjective
Coward has maintained his ho-hum competence and effectiveness as a rookie.
—Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
And while such mechanical underpinnings may seem ho-hum in our jaded age of hypercar performance, the 250 GT Lusso boasts a shape that remains unmatched in the history of Italian cars.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2026
Interjection
The distinction between being unique and ho hum is as thin as the crust.
—Bill Field, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2025
Depending on whether the context is stable (everyday ho hum) or unstable (e.g., COVID-19; tariff wars; geopolitical instability etc.), the cues that get signalled and the way leaders signal these messages change.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ho-hum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ho-hum
Adjective
-
Curry is pure entertainment, and the NBA is a little more boring without him.—
Sports Columnist,
San Francisco Chronicle,
1 Apr. 2026
-
One does detect in Iran hawks a kind of 'will to destruction' and hatred of boring, civilized diplomacy.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In fact, businesses hired workers at their slowest pace since 2011, excluding the onset of the pandemic in 2020.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The area’s large tourist population contributes a constant volume of unfamiliar drivers to already heavily congested roads, with traffic patterns that shift significantly between peak tourist season and the summer months but never truly slow to manageable levels on the area’s major corridors.—
Anton Lucanus
April 3,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Collective processes involve tiring negotiations, frequent conflicts, and disappointing compromises, both internally among the team and with external interlocutors and partners.—
Adam Szymczyk,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
-
This can occasionally become tiring, and the back half of the record is littered with tracks that work better as gay WrestleMania intros than as actual songs.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Hochheiser, who could not return to his condo due to a mold infestation, said one dull day melted into another at Villa Rosa III.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Found Sound is a story about two kids, Felix and Marigold, and a seemingly dull summer vacation that’s upended when the kids find an old wooden box that says OPEN ME.—
Caroline Carlson,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Of course, sometimes the situation is more serious than stupid.—
Isaac Stanley-Becker,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The American people are not stupid and will not accept more failure theater from Republicans in Congress.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
Interjection
-
The new iPad Pro marks the point midway between the way things were (Bezel? Yuck!) and the way they soon will be (Nothing but screen.—
David Pierce,
WIRED,
12 June 2017
Adjective
-
In this case, the dog’s weary posture and downcast eyes made the illusion especially convincing.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Israelis have also grown weary after nearly a month of daily sirens, 16 civilian deaths and dozens of people seriously injured.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Her older brother, Aiden, is a junior on South Elgin’s junior varsity baseball team.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ho-hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ho-hum. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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