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Monotonous - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Monotonous describes something that is dull, repetitive, or lacking in variety. It often refers to tasks, sounds, or routines that become tedious because they never change.

monotonous

/məˈnɑːtn̩əs/ /məˈnɒtənəs/

Definition:

Lacking in variety, dull and repetitive.

Synonyms:

Tedious, boring, repetitive, humdrum, unvaried

Part of Speech:

Adjective

Antonyms:

Exciting, varied, stimulating

Common Collocations:

Monotonous voice, monotonous routine, monotonous work

Derivatives:

Monotony, monotonously

Usage Tips:

Use "monotonous" to describe something unchanging and tedious, like a task or sound that never varies.

Common Phrases:

Same old same old, in a rut, groundhog day

Etymology:

From Greek "monotonos," meaning "of one tone" (mono- "single" + tonos "tone").

Examples:

  • 1. The lecture was so monotonous that I almost fell asleep.
  • 2. Her monotonous job involved typing the same data every day.
  • 3. The rain fell in a monotonous rhythm on the roof.
  • 4. He spoke in a monotonous voice without any emotion.

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