Drabness: meaning, definitions and examples

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drabness

 

[ ˈdræbnəs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

feeling of dullness

The quality of being dreary, dull, or monotonous.

Synonyms

dullness, monotony, tedium.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
drabness

Drabness is often used to describe something that is lacking in color or brightness, making it appear lifeless or boring.

  • The drabness of the old buildings made the neighborhood look depressing.
  • Her outfit's drabness didn't match the vibrant atmosphere of the party.
dullness

Dullness refers to a lack of excitement or interest, and can be used to describe both things and experiences.

  • The dullness of the lecture made it hard to stay awake.
  • His eyes reflected the dullness of a life without passion.
tedium

Tedium emphasizes the state of being tedious, representing an extreme form of boredom due to repetitiveness or length.

  • The tedium of the long wait at the doctor's office made him restless.
  • She complained about the tedium of writing endless reports.
monotony

Monotony refers to a lack of variety and repetitive actions or sounds, often making the situation tiresome or boring.

  • The monotony of the assembly line work became unbearable.
  • He longed for a break from the monotony of everyday life.

Examples of usage

  • Her life was filled with drabness, with each day feeling the same as the last.
  • The drabness of the office environment made it difficult for employees to stay motivated.
Context #2 | Noun

lack of color

Lack of brightness or color; dullness in appearance.

Synonyms

dullness, lack of color, monotony.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
drabness

This word is utilized to indicate a lack of brightness or cheerfulness in appearance, often referring to a dull, lifeless, or uninspiring look in surroundings or clothing.

  • The drabness of the office made it difficult to feel motivated.
  • She tried to brighten the drabness of her wardrobe with a colorful scarf.
dullness

This term generally describes something that lacks sharpness, excitement, or interest. It can refer to both physical and abstract features, such as a dull knife or a dull lecture.

  • The lecture's dullness made it hard to stay awake.
  • The knife's dullness made it difficult to cut through the meat.
lack of color

This phrase is typically used to describe something that literally does not have much color, leading to a plain or uninteresting appearance.

  • The lack of color in the room made it feel cold and uninviting.
  • Her paintings often suffer from a lack of color, making them seem lifeless.
monotony

This word often conveys a negative sense of repetitive sameness over time, leading to boredom and lack of variety in activities or experiences.

  • The monotony of his daily routine made him desperate for a change.
  • She couldn't stand the monotony of the factory job, with the same tasks day after day.

Examples of usage

  • The drabness of the winter landscape was relieved only by a few patches of green.
  • The room's drabness was brightened up by a colorful painting on the wall.

Translations

Translations of the word "drabness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 monotonia

🇮🇳 नीरसता

🇩🇪 Eintönigkeit

🇮🇩 kebosanan

🇺🇦 монотонність

🇵🇱 monotonia

🇯🇵 単調さ

🇫🇷 monotonie

🇪🇸 monotonía

🇹🇷 tekdüzelik

🇰🇷 단조로움

🇸🇦 رتابة

🇨🇿 jednotvárnost

🇸🇰 jednotvárnosť

🇨🇳 单调

🇸🇮 enoličnost

🇮🇸 einsleitni

🇰🇿 монотонность

🇬🇪 მონოტონურობა

🇦🇿 monotonluq

🇲🇽 monotonía

Etymology

The word 'drabness' originated from the Old English word 'drab,' meaning dull or colorless. Over time, 'drabness' evolved to describe both a feeling of dullness and a lack of color. The term has been used in literature and everyday language to convey a sense of monotony and lack of vibrancy.

See also: drab.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,661, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.