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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
  • Never gets boring, never feels overplayed.
    Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2026
  • Pool, sauna, indoor fireplace, luggage drop-off, backyard With so much history and color around every corner in Marrakesh, why stay somewhere boring?
    Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • That’s as childish an expression as the show ever shares.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
  • 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
Adjective
  • Nothing gets Trump angrier than when one of his underlings is caught doing something stupid on videotape.
    Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
  • But to those going to an upcoming show, for the love of God please shut up when Raye is sharing this story; a quiet room isn’t a license to yell stupid nonsense.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Only this week, Conway doubled down with a stunt in front of Mfume’s district office, an act that would be immature and juvenile in an elementary school student government election, let alone a campaign for Congress.
    Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Faced with the prospect of deciding between Urlacher, a late bloomer in high school who almost wasn’t recruited before becoming a college All-American, and Michigan State receiver Plaxico Burress, regarded throughout the NFL as gifted but immature, the Bears did not have to choose.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Flimsy nozzles crack and leak, and heavy-duty nozzles get tiring to hold when your garden calls for more watering time than your hands can handle.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Swift herself talked about how tiring the tour was and what her plans for the future were last October on BBC Radio 1 with Greg James.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Even Michael’s social life is left blank, far beyond his adolescent solitudes.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Relatedly, another study published Friday in JAMA Network Open found that rates of adolescent cannabis use increased after recreational use was legalized in California, but decreased after the Covid pandemic.
    Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Banchero up-and-down The Magic superstar forward got off to a slow start by opening 1-for-6 from the field, including missing his first four 3-pointers.
    Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026
  • More Americans are heading into retirement without a pension, and are instead leaning on savings accounts and investment portfolios that have become increasingly subject to market swings and the slow erosion of inflation.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • The boat had 13 people on board, including seven men, five women and a juvenile female.
    Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
  • But in the weeks ahead, juvenile nymphs will become more common.
    ABC News, ABC News, 25 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 3 May. 2026.

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