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

Other Word Forms

• humdrumness 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

History tells a more humdrum story: People will find new and better work as productivity increases.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That interest is clear as Dyer takes in the humdrum slice-of-life shuffling about at a yawn’s pace from the waiting area on our recent field trip.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

So what turned the land of humdrum politics into a fierce political battleground - and drew many to the far right?

Read more on BBC

While avoiding politics almost entirely allowed the Oscars to stay out of trouble, it also caused the show to be humdrum and bland.

Read more on Salon

The mentions are fairly humdrum in themselves - but worth noting because every time Goldie was mentioned, MPs would cheer, whoop and whistle, in that special way that is peculiar to MPs in the Commons.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• drab 
• dreary 
• everyday 
• monotonous 
• mundane 
• plodding www.thesaurus.com
• tedious 
• uninteresting