inanity

American  

[ih-nan-i-tee] / ɪˈnæn ɪ ti /

noun

plural

inanities

1. lack of sense, significance, or ideas; silliness.

2. something inane.

3. shallowness; superficiality.

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inanity British  

/ ɪˈnænɪtɪ /

noun

1. lack of intelligence or imagination; senselessness; silliness

2. a senseless action, remark, etc

3. archaic emptiness

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Etymology

Origin of inanity

From the Latin word inānitās, dating back to 1595–1605. See inane, -ity

Example Sentences

All this inanity takes place over the course of a handful of days, during which no one ever seems to change clothes.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

The weirdest thing about Oldham’s terrible opinions is that their half-baked inanity does not seem to reflect his true intellect.

From Slate • Jul. 10, 2025

And he transmits the inanity to his characters, who speak, move and act as if they are all part of a stage play that would get laughed off Broadway before previews have even ended.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2025

I’ll admit I still did, at least for some of this swaggering inanity.

From New York Times • Sep. 21, 2023

Although neophyte writers may repeat a simple sentence structure to the point of inanity, most writers go to the opposite extreme and vary their syntax capriciously.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker