Repetitious: meaning, definitions and examples

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repetitious

 

[ rɪˈpɛtɪʃəs ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

in speech or writing

characterized by unnecessary repetition of words or ideas

Synonyms

cyclical, redundant, reiterative, repetitive.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
repetitious

Used to describe something that is repeated excessively in a way that might be boring or monotonous. Often has a negative connotation.

  • The repetitious nature of the speeches made the audience lose interest.
  • Her writing style was criticized for being too repetitious.
redundant

Refers to something that is unnecessarily repetitive or that provides no additional value. Often used in technical, work, or academic contexts.

  • His explanation was redundant because he repeated what others had already stated.
  • Removing redundant code from the software will improve its performance.
repetitive

Used to describe actions or processes that are repeated over and over again. Can have a neutral or negative connotation depending on the context.

  • Factory work can be very repetitive and tiresome.
  • The song's repetitive chorus made it easy to remember.
reiterative

Describes something that involves repeating, particularly for emphasis or clarification. It is often used in formal or academic settings.

  • The teacher's reiterative instructions aimed to ensure all students understood the task.
  • Her reiterative reminder about the deadline was meant to stress its importance.
cyclical

Describes processes or events that occur in cycles or repeat in a predictable pattern. It is often used in contexts such as economics, seasons, or natural phenomena.

  • The cyclical nature of the economy means that periods of growth are followed by recessions.
  • Agriculture in this region is heavily dependent on cyclical rainfall patterns.

Examples of usage

  • Her writing style is repetitious and lacks originality.
  • His speeches are often criticized for being repetitious and boring.
Context #2 | Adjective

in behavior or actions

involving unnecessary repetition of the same actions or behaviors

Synonyms

boring, monotonous, repetitive, tedious.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
repetitious

Used when something is repeated too many times, often unnecessarily, and it becomes annoying or tiresome.

  • The repetitious nature of the speaker's points made the lecture hard to follow
repetitive

Used when something repeats itself, often in a mechanical or predictable way.

  • The job involved a lot of repetitive tasks, making it quite uninteresting
monotonous

Describes something that is dull and unchanging, lacking in variety and interest.

  • Her voice was so monotonous that it was difficult to stay engaged during the presentation
tedious

Applied when something is slow, long, and tiresome, due to its lack of excitement.

  • Filling out all the paperwork was a tedious process
boring

Applied when something is uninteresting or fails to hold attention, generally lacking excitement.

  • The movie was so boring that half the audience fell asleep

Examples of usage

  • His repetitious behavior at work annoys his colleagues.
  • The repetitious nature of the task made it boring and monotonous.

Translations

Translations of the word "repetitious" in other languages:

🇵🇹 repetitivo

🇮🇳 दोहरावदार

🇩🇪 wiederholend

🇮🇩 berulang-ulang

🇺🇦 повторюваний

🇵🇱 powtarzający się

🇯🇵 繰り返しの

🇫🇷 répétitif

🇪🇸 repetitivo

🇹🇷 tekrarlayan

🇰🇷 반복적인

🇸🇦 متكرر

🇨🇿 opakující se

🇸🇰 opakujúci sa

🇨🇳 重复的

🇸🇮 ponavljajoč

🇮🇸 endurtekin

🇰🇿 қайталанатын

🇬🇪 გამეორებითი

🇦🇿 təkrarlanan

🇲🇽 repetitivo

Etymology

The word 'repetitious' originated from the Latin word 'repetitio', which means 'repetition'. It entered the English language in the early 17th century. The concept of repetition has long been recognized in various fields, including literature, psychology, and education. The use of 'repetitious' highlights the idea of unnecessary or excessive repetition, often viewed negatively in communication and behavior.

See also: repeatability, repeatable, repeated, repeatedly, repeater, repeating, repetition, repetitive.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,228, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.