Monotony: meaning, definitions and examples
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monotony
[ məˈnɑːt(ə)ni ]
in daily life
The quality or state of lacking variation or excitement; a tedious sameness.
Synonyms
boredom, sameness, tedium, uniformity.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
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monotony |
Describes a situation or feeling where there is a lack of variety, leading to dullness. Commonly used to talk about routine tasks or jobs that become tiresome due to repetition.
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tedium |
Focuses on the quality of being tiresome or monotonous over a long period. Often used for prolonged tasks or periods of inactivity.
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boredom |
Refers to the feeling of being uninterested or lacking in excitement. Often used when someone has nothing engaging to do.
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sameness |
Highlights the uniformity and lack of variety in a situation, making it dull. Used to emphasize the lack of change or difference.
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uniformity |
Describes the state of being uniform, consistent, and without variation. Used to talk about consistency, often with a slight negative connotation when it implies lack of originality.
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Examples of usage
- His daily routine had become a source of monotony.
- She craved excitement to break the monotony of her life.
in music
A repeated note, phrase, or rhythm.
Synonyms
consistency, repetition, uniformity.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
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monotony |
Use this word to describe something that is dull, lacking variety, and can be boring due to repetition. It often has a negative connotation.
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repetition |
This word is generally neutral and can be used both positively and negatively. It refers to the act of repeating something, which can be useful for practice or learning, but also can be tedious.
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uniformity |
This word is used to describe things that are exactly the same or very similar in appearance, form, or order. It can be both positive and negative depending on the context.
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consistency |
This word is used when describing something that remains the same over time, often seen in a positive light, especially when reliability or stability is important.
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Examples of usage
- The song had a soothing monotony to it.
- The monotony of the drum beat created a hypnotic effect.
Translations
Translations of the word "monotony" in other languages:
🇵🇹 monotonia
🇮🇳 एकरसता
🇩🇪 Monotonie
🇮🇩 monotoni
🇺🇦 монотонність
🇵🇱 monotonia
🇯🇵 単調さ
🇫🇷 monotonie
🇪🇸 monotonía
🇹🇷 tekdüzelik
🇰🇷 단조로움
🇸🇦 رتابة
🇨🇿 monotónnost
🇸🇰 monotónnosť
🇨🇳 单调
🇸🇮 monotonija
🇮🇸 einhæfni
🇰🇿 монотондық
🇬🇪 მონოტონურობა
🇦🇿 monotonluq
🇲🇽 monotonía
Etymology
The word 'monotony' originated from the Greek word 'monotonos', which means 'of one tone'. It first appeared in English in the early 17th century. The concept of monotony has been explored in various fields, from psychology to literature, highlighting the human tendency to seek variety and stimulation. In daily life, monotony can lead to feelings of boredom and lack of inspiration, while in music, it can create a sense of rhythm and repetition.