Word
inane
US/ˌɪˈneɪn/
UK/ɪnˈeɪn/
Definition
adj. stupid or silly in a way that is annoying. You use this to describe things that are not worth thinking about because they are so boring or empty.
adj. stupid, silly, or foolish in a way that is irritating or trivial. Often used to describe speech, ideas, or activities that lack any real value or intelligence.
Examples
“The movie was full of inane jokes that nobody laughed at.”
“The politician's speech was criticized for being inane, as it focused on minor details rather than the actual issues facing the country.”
“The novel's plot is criticized for its inane subplots, which distract from the central narrative and fail to provide any meaningful character development.”
Examples
simple
“The movie was full of inane jokes that nobody laughed at.”
contextual
“The politician's speech was criticized for being inane, as it focused on minor details rather than the actual issues facing the country.”
complex
“The novel's plot is criticized for its inane subplots, which distract from the central narrative and fail to provide any meaningful character development.”
Real-World Examples
“On almost every flight there is at least one passenger who sighs or makes some inane comment, loud enough for everyone to hear, about how annoying it is.” “Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate armed services committee, called it “another inane, haphazard decision by President Trump and his chaotic administration”.” Etymology
From Latin inānis (“empty, vain, useless”), of unknown origin.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/inane