Definition of jejunenext
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
  • 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
  • The use of childish internet and video-game memes to describe violence is coarse and unworthy of the men and women who go in harm’s way.
    Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
  • However, this is a childish fantasy.
    Dr. Michael Good, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 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
Adjective
  • Yet this widely available gourd—harvested and eaten while still immature, in fact, for ripe cucumbers are yellow and bitter—is not the entirety of the plant.
    Andrés Muedano, JSTOR Daily, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Preterm and low-birth-weight babies are at higher risk than full-term babies of developing NEC, potentially because of their immature digestive systems, according to the National Institutes of Health.
    Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 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
  • His adolescent name-calling and desperate need to emblazon his name on multiple sites are cause for national embarrassment.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
  • For example, research shows that adolescent boys are more susceptible to pressure for risk-taking behaviors than girls.
    Amy Morin, Parents, 3 Apr. 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
  • Experts estimate thousands of additional uses occur in undisclosed plea deals and juvenile cases.
    Ivan J. Bates, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Also making headlines early April are reports of a juvenile white shark that got caught on a fishing line at Hermosa Beach.
    Paris Barraza, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
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 7 Apr. 2026.

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