Inanely: meaning, definitions and examples
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inanely
[ ɪˈneɪnli ]
lack of sense
The term 'inanely' is used to describe actions or statements that are senseless, meaningless, or lacking in significance. It often conveys a sense of absurdity or foolishness, as if the subject is behaving in an excessively silly way. In conversation, describing something as inane suggests that it is not just uninteresting but also trivial and empty of substance. Such usage typically imbues the comment with a critical tone, indicating disapproval of the lack of thought or depth.
Synonyms
absurdly, foolishly, ridiculously, senselessly.
Examples of usage
- He laughed inanely at every joke.
- The discussion was filled with inanely simple ideas.
- She made inanely comments about the movie's plot.
- They spent the evening inanely chatting about nothing.
Translations
Translations of the word "inanely" in other languages:
🇵🇹 de forma insensata
🇮🇳 बेतुकी तरह से
🇩🇪 sinnlos
🇮🇩 secara bodoh
🇺🇦 безглуздо
🇵🇱 bezsensownie
🇯🇵 馬鹿げて
🇫🇷 de manière insensée
🇪🇸 de manera insensata
🇹🇷 saçma bir şekilde
🇰🇷 어리석게
🇸🇦 بشكل ساذج
🇨🇿 bezmyslně
🇸🇰 bezmyselne
🇨🇳 愚蠢地
🇸🇮 neumno
🇮🇸 heimskulega
🇰🇿 надансыз
🇬🇪 ბრიყვულად
🇦🇿 mənasız şəkildə
🇲🇽 de manera insensata
Etymology
The word 'inanely' derives from the adjective 'inane,' which comes from the Latin word 'inanis,' meaning empty or void. The transition from Latin to English occurred in the 14th century, where 'inane' started to describe things lacking sense or significance. Over time, the adverbial form 'inanely' emerged to describe actions or behaviors that reflect these qualities. The use of 'inane' has historical ties to philosophical discussions about meaning and existence, as thinkers often grappled with the concept of emptiness in both a literal and metaphorical sense. In contemporary English, 'inanely' is often used in informal contexts to critique conversations, media, or behaviors that fail to engage meaningfully with their subjects.