BOREDOM Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

boredom

noun

ˈbȯr-dəm

Definition of boredom

as in restlessness

the state of being bored she spent that whole meeting in a state of complete boredom, waiting for lunch

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of boredom The level of boredom Pugh brought to Kate making her older client orgasm by squeezing his nipples really sold her approach to the work. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026 The company granted Hayes free food for life at any location, though familiarity, to misquote an old adage, breeds boredom. — Tom Roland, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2026 Then came a quieter reaction—people shifting in their seats, glancing at one another, going still in a way that had nothing to do with boredom. — Julian De Freitas, Harvard Business Review, 24 Sep. 2026 Far fewer people can execute the same disciplines at the same standard through boredom, distraction, and difficult seasons. — Richard Ceffalio, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for boredom

Recent Examples of Synonyms for boredom

Noun

Cheng told Hackensack Meridian Health that drinking caffeine during this window can temporarily raise cortisol even further, potentially contributing to feelings of anxiety or restlessness.

— Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
Pouring caffeine on top of that peak can push cortisol even higher, which Cheng said may contribute to anxiety and restlessness.

— Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of restlessness

Noun

The vestiges of his fading memory flash by with a haunting plainness, the melancholy of all this Americana and the sadness of a mind ravaged by time strike the viewer plainly at the end of this maximalist piece of life-writing.

— Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
The question for me is whether or not Lloyd will also manage to capture the melancholy of a deceptively serious play, notwithstanding its reputation.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of melancholy

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bored

boredom

bore (down)

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“Boredom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boredom. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of boredom

noun

Example Sentences

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