Words / B2

m-uh-NOT-uh-n-uh-s/məˈnɒtənəs/

Monotonous means boring because it does not change: a monotonous recitation; monotonous work. Boring is everyday; repetitive stresses the repeat. A recitation of dates is not an argument. Noun: monotony. Mix-up: monotonic is a maths “always rising/falling”; mono is one channel. Do not write monotonous for a single low note unless the boredom sense is meant.

Meaning

Boring because it does not change.

Examples

• “A monotonous recitation of dates is not an argument.”
• “The night shift was monotonous, which is the unchanging-work sense.”

Good to know

monotonous + noun; monotony. Everyday: boring. Trap: monotonic (maths). Essays, PE logs, and news. Dull and unchanging, not a graph that only rises.

Near in meaning

boring

New