inane

American  

[ih-neyn] / ɪˈneɪn /

adjective

1. lacking sense, significance, or ideas; silly.

   inane questions.

   Synonyms:

   pointless, absurd

2. empty; void.

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noun

1. something that is empty or void, especially the void of infinite space.

inane British  

/ ɪˈneɪn /

adjective

1. senseless, unimaginative, or empty; unintelligent

   inane remarks

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Usage

What are other ways to say inane? Something inane lacks sense, significance, or ideas. Do you know when to use inane, fatuous, silly, foolish, stupid, and asinine? Find out on Thesaurus.com. 

Other Word Forms

• inanely adverb

Etymology

Origin of inane

First recorded in 1655–65, inane is from the Latin word inānis

Example Sentences

This was the rarest of offerings in today’s endlessly inane sports media ecosystem:

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

After all, I am only in the store a few minutes a week and can readily suck it up and ignore the discombobulatingly inane strains of “Peaceful, Easy Feeling” blaring overhead.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 15, 2025

Trump’s moment of the night ended up feeling tacked on, as James Austin Johnson appeared suddenly in an already solid sketch about Gen Alpha slang and inane podcasts for teenage boys.

From Salon • Oct. 19, 2025

The uproar even produced this exquisitely inane headline from the New York Times: “What Charlie Kirk Could Mean for the Future of Marriage.”

From Salon • Sep. 28, 2025

Here, I couldn’t watch movies, play games, or listen to music while I answered the endless stream of inane calls.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline