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

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

The race to replace Senator Ben Cardin, a Democrat who is retiring, was expected to make for a fairly humdrum general election before Mr. Hogan entered the race.

From New York Times

The report determined the agency struggled to balance its social equity framework with the humdrum administrative duties of a government agency primarily tasked with licensing.

From Seattle Times

In these journals — a collection of notebooks in Biden’s case — they confide to themselves, express raw opinions, trace even the humdrum habits of their day and offer seat-of-the-pants insight on monumental decisions of their time.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

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