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ennui

Noun

IPA /ɒnˈwiː/

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Meaning in plain English

A weary feeling of boredom because life seems dull or unsatisfying.

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Pronunciation

ennui/ɒnˈwiː/

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Every day feels the same
Nothing seems interesting or meaningful
A lingering sense of boredom develops

Ennui is a weary feeling of boredom and dissatisfaction.

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Examples in context

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After weeks of the same routine, she felt a growing sense of ennui.
The novel's narrator expresses the ennui of repetitive office work.

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After weeks of the same routine, she felt a growing sense of ________.

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ennui — A weary feeling of boredom because life seems dull or unsatisfying.

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A weary feeling of boredom because life seems dull or unsatisfying.

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Word origin

Borrowed from French ennui, ultimately linked to a Latin expression meaning something is hateful.

Did you know?

Ennui is usually uncountable and often appears in literary writing.

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