Tedium: meaning, definitions and examples

Tedium describes a state of being tedious or repetitive, often focusing on the dullness and length of an activity.

• The tedium of the long meeting made everyone restless.
• Filling out paperwork is a task filled with tedium.

Boredom refers to the feeling of being bored or uninterested, often because there is nothing engaging to do.

• She felt a sense of boredom while waiting for her friend.
• To cure his boredom, he started reading a new book.

Monotony refers to a lack of variety and interest; something that is repetitive and unchanging.

• The monotony of factory work can be hard to bear.
• They broke the monotony of the trip by playing road games.

Ennui is a sophisticated term that conveys a deep and existential sense of boredom, often resulting from a lack of excitement or purpose in life.

• The ennui of his daily routine made him question his life choices.
• She felt ennui, despite having everything she thought she wanted.