as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
that movie is just a series of mind-numbing explosions and car chases
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Recent Examples of mind-numbing
This doesn’t change the fact that describing someone browsing the web or scrolling without end can be mind-numbing.
—
Maya Chung, The Atlantic, 16 Jan. 2026
As with every year, our theaters and smart TVs will be filled with a sometimes cheerful mix of heady award hopefuls, mind-numbing but merry comedies, big box office blowouts and some out-of-left-field curveballs.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
The Browns probably weren’t going to be able to drive 70-plus yards in around 90 seconds to either tie the game or give themselves a chance to win, but the mind-numbing penalties took any hypothetical last-second heroics out of the storyline.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Yes, this may have been a mind-numbing barrage of percentages.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mind-numbing
Maya Chung, The Atlantic, 16 Jan. 2026
As with every year, our theaters and smart TVs will be filled with a sometimes cheerful mix of heady award hopefuls, mind-numbing but merry comedies, big box office blowouts and some out-of-left-field curveballs.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
The Browns probably weren’t going to be able to drive 70-plus yards in around 90 seconds to either tie the game or give themselves a chance to win, but the mind-numbing penalties took any hypothetical last-second heroics out of the storyline.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Yes, this may have been a mind-numbing barrage of percentages.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mind-numbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mind-numbing
Adjective
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The rooms Forget boring beiges and personality-less whites.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Mar. 2026
-
This is a boring line of logic to keep hammering as the season drags on.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And adopting the mantle of cultural curmudgeon can get tiring.—
Anna Holmes,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2026
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Riko Ueki headed Japan's opening goal, her fourth of the tournament, before Maika Hamano, Aoba Fujino and Kiko Seike all scored against a tiring Vietnamese defense.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This chaged profile results in improved satiety and a slower blood sugar spike.—
Jahnavi Rapaka,
Vogue,
21 Mar. 2026
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That alone would create a challenging year for water managers, who rely on slow and steady snowmelt to feed streams, rivers and reservoirs and meet spring and summer demand for irrigation and drinking water.—
Mira Rojanasakul,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Of all the live-action shows made by Adult Swim, Three Busy Debras is the most cartoonish; its world is as elastic and stupid as any Chuck Jones Looney Tunes joint.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Anyone who says anything else is stupid or lying.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
All other presentation apps seem dull and dated.—
Edward Mendelson,
PC Magazine,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Glossing 5-Min Lamination Mask This mask became an instant winter-hair hero for me, helping to revive my dried-out, dull lengths with each use.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In the United States, the actor played secondary roles, usually weary, nervy authority figures, such as the stern mentor (Good Will Hunting) and the persnickety scientist (Deep Blue Sea).—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
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Wolf packs on the hunt encircled their prey—typically elk—clamping at the jugular when their target grew weary from the chase.—
Nidhi Sharma,
Popular Science,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
If frozen molecules can survive within these dusty structures, they may later be released into the interstellar medium as the nebula disperses, contributing complex material to future generations of stars and planetary systems.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
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The Sombrero Galaxy was imaged to magnificent effect by the Hubble Space Telescope — most recently to mark its 35th anniversary in space — which revealed its sweeping disk-like structure and pronounced dusty lanes shining beneath its glowing galactic core.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Blume would shower with her father and her older brother, David.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
18 Mar. 2026
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The funeral prayer for the 41-year-old Afghan father of six who died Saturday in ICE custody was held Tuesday while more questions arise about why he was picked up and what caused his death less than a day later.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mind-numbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mind-numbing. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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