Words / C2

ONW-ee/ˈɒnwiː/

Ennui is a tired, empty boredom when nothing seems worth doing — more listless than “I’m bored this afternoon.” Boredom is the everyday word; restlessness still has energy. Ennui is a French loan that can sound essay-like or slightly precious in speech; use it in reviews and fiction, or say fed up and drained. It is not a medical diagnosis, and it is not simple sleepiness.

Meaning

A feeling of being bored and tired because nothing is interesting.

Examples

• “Long holidays without a plan can end in ennui.”
• “After the exams, ennui settled over the empty halls.”
• “The novel captures suburban ennui without sneering at it.”

Good to know

Literary/formal for listless boredom. Everyday: boredom / fed up. Easy to sound affected in speech.

Near in meaning

boredom

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