boredom

noun

bore·​dom ˈbȯr-dəm How to pronounce boredom (audio)
Synonyms of boredom
: the state of being weary and restless through lack of interest
the boredom of a long car trip

Synonyms of boredom

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Examples of boredom in a Sentence

On days when few customers came to shop, Bob felt overwhelmed by boredom. the boredom of a long car trip
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But this is potentially generative boredom, the kind that might induce a trance or, at its most transcendent, a divine encounter. — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026 Survey findings About 28% of Gaston respondents reported moderate or higher levels of negative emotions such as sadness, anxiety, anger or boredom, compared with roughly 10% in Union, Venkitasubramanian said. — Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026 Handler, in turn, noted that people can sometime choose to drink out of boredom. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2026 Cooke samples an absorbing range of hoaxes, from the college students who convinced the world that an imaginary Scotsman had invented the electric toaster to the Chinese housewife who fabricated an entire war out of boredom. — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for boredom

Word History

Etymology

bore entry 5 + -dom

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of boredom was in 1853

Rhymes for boredom

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Browse Nearby Words

bored
boredom
boree
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Cite this Entry

“Boredom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boredom. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

boredom

noun
bore·​dom ˈbō(ə)rd-əm How to pronounce boredom (audio)
ˈbȯ(ə)rd-
: the state of being bored

More from Merriam-Webster on boredom

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about boredom

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