tedium

Wearisome lack of variety

Tedium is the state of being wearisome or monotonous—the quality of dragging on without relief or interest.

It differs from boredom in emphasizing duration and repetition rather than mere lack of stimulation: the tedium of data entry, the tedium of a long commute.

Where boredom might strike suddenly, tedium accumulates.

boredom

monotony

Tiresome lack of change

dullnessLack of stimulation
ennuiWeary, listless dissatisfaction
listlessnessAbsence of energy, enthusiasm

weariness · disinterest · apathy · restlessness · yawning · glazed · disengagement · indifference · unstimulating · mind-numbing

repetition

sameness

State of being identical

monotonyTiresome lack of change
repetitivenessRecurring without variation
routineRegular sequence of actions

uniformity · unchanging · predictability · redundancy · cycle · drone · grind · mechanical · rote · formulaic

weariness

fatigue

Weariness from prolonged exertion

exhaustionState of utter depletion
drainChannel for wastewater
burnoutChronic occupational depletion

lethargy · languor · torpor · malaise · jaded · flagging · enervation · world-weariness · sapped · dispiriting

drudgery

toil

Strenuous, prolonged effort

slogLaborious persistent effort
grindCrush into particles
choreRoutine domestic task

labor · plodding · menial · unrewarding · thankless · burdensome · arduous · busywork · paperwork · deskwork

prolonged

interminable

Without apparent conclusion

endlessWithout termination or boundary
draggingPulling with effort
crawlingMoving on hands, knees

drawn-out · protracted · unending · waiting · eternity · ages · hours · slow · plodding · never-ending

tedium

monotony

sameness

fatigue

toil

interminable

tedium

Opposites

Categories

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