Inane: meaning, definitions and examples
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inane
[ ɪˈneɪn ]
lack of meaning
The term 'inane' refers to something that is lacking sense or meaning. It is often used to describe remarks, comments, or behaviors that seem silly or pointless. Inane statements typically do not contribute to a meaningful conversation or add value to a discussion. People might use this word to criticize others for being shallow or unthoughtful in their expressions. Overall, inane describes a quality of emptiness or voidness in content and purpose.
Synonyms
empty, foolish, meaningless, pointless, silly.
Examples of usage
- His inane comments during the meeting drew eye rolls.
- The film was criticized for its inane plot.
- She was tired of the inane chatter at the party.
Translations
Translations of the word "inane" in other languages:
🇵🇹 inútil
- insensato
- vago
🇮🇳 व्यर्थ
- निरर्थक
- बेकार
🇩🇪 eitel
- nichtig
- sinnlos
🇮🇩 tidak berguna
- sia-sia
- bodoh
🇺🇦 марний
- безглуздий
- порожній
🇵🇱 bezsensowny
- pusty
- nieistotny
🇯🇵 無意味な (muimi na)
- 無駄な (mudanai)
- 空虚な (kuuchonai)
🇫🇷 insensé
- vain
- vide
🇪🇸 inútil
- vacío
- insensato
🇹🇷 gereksiz
- boş
- anlamsız
🇰🇷 무의미한 (muimihan)
- 쓸모없는 (sseulmo eobsneun)
- 공허한 (gongheohan)
🇸🇦 عديم الفائدة (ʿadīm al-fā'idah)
- فارغ (fārigh)
- تافه (tāfih)
🇨🇿 bezvýznamný
- prázdný
- hloupý
🇸🇰 bezvýznamný
- prázdny
- hlúpy
🇨🇳 无意义的 (wú yìyì de)
- 空洞的 (kōngdòng de)
- 无用的 (wúyòng de)
🇸🇮 neumen
- prazen
- nesmiseln
🇮🇸 ómerkilegur
- gagnslaus
- tómt
🇰🇿 пайдасыз
- мағынасыз
- бос
🇬🇪 უსარგებლო (usargeblo)
- უსარგებლო (usargeblo)
- ცარიელი (ts’areli)
🇦🇿 boş
- mənasız
- işə yaramaz
🇲🇽 inútil
- vacío
- insensato
Etymology
The word 'inane' has its origins in the Latin word 'inanis', which means 'empty' or 'void.' This term was adopted into Middle English around the late 14th century, evolving its meaning to refer to something devoid of meaning or significance. Over time, 'inane' has maintained its connotation of emptiness and has been used primarily in a pejorative sense to describe comments, ideas, or actions that are perceived as trivial or lacking substance. As the English language evolved, so did the usage of 'inane', becoming common in both spoken and written forms, particularly in critiques of dialogue or reasoning. The shift from its Latin roots to modern usage reflects a broader semantic change that emphasizes intellectual emptiness rather than physical absence.