ennui

noun

en·nui | \ ˌän-ˈwē

Definition of ennui

: a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction : boredom

Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about ennui

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Did You Know?

The French loanword ennui comes from the very same Late Latin word that gave us annoy — inodiare ("to make loathsome"). We borrowed ennui several centuries after absorbing annoy into the language. Ennui deals more with boredom than irritation - and a somewhat specific sort of boredom at that. It generally refers to the feeling of jadedness that can result from living a life of too much ease. The poet Charles Lloyd described it well in his 1823 Stanzas to Ennui when he referred to that world-weary sensation as a "soul-destroying fiend" which visits with its "pale unrest / The chambers of the human breast / Where too much happiness hath fixed its home."

Examples of ennui in a Sentence

When the antiproton was discovered … it sent a wave of ennui through the physics community. Not that its discovery was unimportant, but on the basis of Dirac's theory, everybody expected it. — Roger G. Newton, The Truth of Science, 1997 Chauncey and I were keen enough about our aesthetic solution to the ennui of war to try to proselytize others. He organized discussion groups with the crew; I took volunteers to visit landmarks … — Louis Auchincloss, "Atlantic War," in Authors at Sea, ed. Robert Shenk, 1997 The attendant outside was standing on tennis balls, exercising the soles of her feet, her body swaying back and forth with the ennui of jelly. — Edna O'Brien, New Yorker, 17 June 1991 Thus the days of life are consumed, one by one, without an object beyond the present moment; ever flying from the ennui of that, yet carrying it with us … — Thomas Jefferson, in a letter dated 7 Feb. 1787 Thomas Jefferson: Writings, 1984 the kind of ennui that comes from having too much time on one's hands and too little will to find something productive to do

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s plenty of virtue in planning a week’s menu in advance, but there’s no reason to endure that kind of gustatory ennui. — Paul Stephen, ExpressNews.com, "The new meal prep: 6 dinners from 3 basic ingredients," 28 Aug. 2019 Signaling the character's louche-ness from his first entrance, which features simulated urination and a drunken snooze, Everett conveys scathing ennui with ease. — Stephen Dalton, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Uncle Vanya': Theater Review," 31 July 2019 The French public's ennui amid a string of political scandals is famously unshakeable. — Rachel Mosely, Town & Country, "The 1% Daily," 2 July 2014 Durant’s ennui predates the second consecutive championship. — Gary Peterson, The Mercury News, "Was Kevin Durant joining the Nets more a matter of him ditching the Warriors?," 17 July 2019 The half-hour comedy works as a sharp sendup of millennial ennui via siblings Brooke (Heléne Yorke) and Cary (Drew Tarver). — Ew Staff, EW.com, "Emmys 2019: EW picks the dark-horse contenders who deserve nominations," 12 July 2019 Trish spent much of the series’ 2018 run criticizing Jessica’s superhero ennui and ends the season by killing her best friend’s unstable mom, Alisa (Janet McTeer). — Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, "Don't Have Time To Watch Jessica Jones Season 3? This Is How It Ends," 15 June 2019 Political engagement among youth has often been difficult to gauge, with swings from ennui to activism and back again depending on the issues of the day — or the lack of them — crucial to young people. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Column: Young voters seem more engaged as 2020 election approaches," 5 July 2019 Should the problem turn out not to be burnout but simple ennui, there’s no shame in admitting you’re just not feeling your job anymore. — Sarah Todd, Quartz at Work, "Why it’s so dangerous when star employees check out," 2 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ennui.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for ennui

ennui

noun

English Language Learners Definition of ennui

: a lack of spirit, enthusiasm, or interest

See the full definition for ennui in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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ennui

Definition of ennui

Synonyms for ennui

Did You Know?

Examples of ennui in a Sentence

First Known Use of ennui

History and Etymology for ennui

English Language Learners Definition of ennui

ennui

Definition of ennui

Synonyms for ennui

Did You Know?

Examples of ennui in a Sentence

First Known Use of ennui

History and Etymology for ennui

English Language Learners Definition of ennui

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