Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for boredom. Search instead for boredoms.
Synonyms

boredom

American  
[bawr-duhm] / ˈbɔr dəm /

noun

  1. the state of being bored; the feeling of being wearied by dullness, tedious repetition, etc.

    Synonyms:
    ennui, tedium, weariness, doldrums, dullness
    Antonyms:
    amusement, diversion, excitement
boredom British  
/ ˈbɔːdəm /

noun

  1. the state of being bored; tedium

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of boredom

First recorded in 1850–55; bore 1 + -dom

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He hopes “A World Appears” encourages others to do the same: to observe what’s going on inside of them a little more, and when boredom, inevitably, creeps in to, perhaps, do nothing about it all.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

It will be the culmination of 11 days of competition which have included controversy, drama and intrigue... as well as the odd bout of boredom.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

The harsh environment would confine people to domes or underground shelters, where boredom and isolation would be real dangers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

Many people order due to “stress, boredom or fatigue,” he said, but generally, delivery should be considered a treat.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 6, 2026

And their boredom is the thing that the meanness feeds on.

From "Every Day" by David Levithan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.