humdrum

[ huhm-druhm ]

adjective

1. lacking variety; boring; dull:

   a humdrum existence.

   Synonyms: tiresome, mundane, routine, tedious

noun

1. humdrum character or routine; monotony.
2. monotonous or tedious talk.
3. Archaic. a dull, boring person.

humdrum

/ ˈhʌmˌdrʌm /

adjective

1. ordinary; dull

noun

1. a monotonous routine, task, or person

Derived Forms

• ˈhumˌdrumness, noun

Other Words From

• humdrumness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of humdrum¹

1545–55; earlier humtrum, rhyming compound based on hum

Word History and Origins

Origin of humdrum¹

C16: rhyming compound, probably based on hum

Example Sentences

And in this oversold earthly Eden, the fruit of pleasure and delight was the orange, not the humdrum apple.

From Los Angeles Times

Troubling for the humdrum political reason that voters kept saying they hated the economy, and for the warped bizarro-world reason that the economy was, by any historical standard, in great shape.

From Slate

Sometimes, the things that most motivate and energize us get lost in the humdrum shuffle of a workday.

From Slate

Rather, it revolves around a fairly humdrum question of whether any of several statutes authorize the appointment of a special counsel as the Constitution plainly allows.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite his seemingly humdrum existence, Shaun, a.k.a.

From New York Times

Related Words

• drab
• dreary
• everyday
• monotonous
• mundane
• plodding
• tedious
• uninteresting