inanity

noun

inan·​i·​ty i-ˈna-nə-tē 

plural inanities

1

: the quality or state of being inane: such as

a

: vapid, pointless, or fatuous character : shallowness

b

: lack of substance : emptiness

2

: something that is inane

Synonyms of inanity

• insanity
• idiocy
• absurdity

Examples of inanity in a Sentence

quickly realized that her suggestion was an inanity and withdrew it

the jaw-dropping inanity of the singer's comments on the awards show

Recent Examples on the Web

But the flight to extremism, and the metastasizing inanity, is a two-party problem, and those of us who are Democrats and who care about the importance of regrowing the dormant (if not dead) political center have an obligation to try to do something about it. —Jeffrey Robbins, Boston Herald, 4 May 2026

The post-liberals stand for cruelty and inanity, but Brooks can’t admit to standing for much of anything at all. —Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026

All this inanity takes place over the course of a handful of days, during which no one ever seems to change clothes. —Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026

The music movie tries to capture the insanity and inanity of being a modern celebrity. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for inanity

• humanity
• insanity
• profanity
• urbanity
• christianity
• inhumanity
• sanity
• vanity

Kids Definition

inanity

noun

inan·​i·​ty in-ˈan-ət-ē 

plural inanities

1

: the quality or state of being inane

2

: something inane