tedium
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of tedium
First recorded in 1655–65, tedium is from the Latin word taedium
Explanation
Tedium is the state of being really bored while doing something repetitive. You may loathe the tedium of eating dinner with the family — after all, what is more boring than talking to mom and dad, especially if you could be texting friends? The noun tedium comes from the Latin root word taedere, meaning "to weary of," and that's still what tedium means today: bored and weary of it all. The noun can also mean a tedious period of time — school concerts and assemblies are always two hours of tedium. Tedious is a related adjective form of the word. In order to relieve the tedium of homework, you should pick less tedious tasks, try fencing or painting to add some excitement to the day.
Vocabulary lists containing tedium
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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.
Just look at what happened last year when an essay adapted by Heather Havrilesky from her book “Foreverland: On the Divine Tedium of Marriage” appeared in the New York Times.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 18, 2022
During a segment on Wednesday, the hosts express outrage and quite a bit of confusion toward Havrilesky's new book "Foreverland: On the Divine Tedium of Marriage" and its humorous gripes on marriage.
From Salon • Mar. 4, 2022
This essay is adapted from her book “Foreverland: On the Divine Tedium of Marriage,” which will be published on Feb. 8, 2022, by Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
From New York Times • Dec. 24, 2021
The law reformer Allan Horsfall was unimpressed with the outcome of his years of campaigning: "I don’t think boredom quite expresses the way we felt. Tedium perhaps."
From Time • Jun. 21, 2017
It may be, for example, that the elimination of Pain would only leave a vacuum for Tedium to rush in; but how are we to decide this à priori?
From God and Mr. Wells A Critical Examination of 'God the Invisible King' by Archer, William
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.
