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Ennui: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Ennui noun. A listless weariness that comes from having nothing interesting to do.
How to say it
on-WEE/ɒnˈwiː/
2 syllables, stressed on the second (WEE).
Ennui in a sentence
By the third week of rain, a deep ennui had settled over the holiday cottage.
The rich heirs in the novel drift through their days in elegant ennui.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- boredom
- listlessness
- tedium
- languor
Opposite:
- excitement
- enthusiasm
Where ennui comes from
French for boredom, from the same Latin roots as annoy.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The rich heirs in the novel drift through their days in elegant _____.
- sangfroid
- ennui
- schmaltz
Show the answer
ennui: The rich heirs in the novel drift through their days in elegant ennui.