as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
the characterizations are good, but the plot is just ho-hum
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ho-hum
James Poniewozik, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
These plants have long been a landscape staple, especially as an evergreen foundation plant, to the point where they were seen as pedestrian and a little ho-hum.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2025
Sunday was about as ho-hum as a dominant performance could be.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025
In fact, contrary to California’s glitzy image, Reagan and Schwarzenegger are the odd men out in a long line of drab, largely ho-hum candidates who have been elected to the state’s top office.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ho-hum
Adjective
But neither was there the ho-hum, dutiful lassitude that usually accompanies second inaugurations, like Barack Obama’s in 2013.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
These plants have long been a landscape staple, especially as an evergreen foundation plant, to the point where they were seen as pedestrian and a little ho-hum.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2025
Sunday was about as ho-hum as a dominant performance could be.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025
In fact, contrary to California’s glitzy image, Reagan and Schwarzenegger are the odd men out in a long line of drab, largely ho-hum candidates who have been elected to the state’s top office.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ho-hum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ho-hum
Adjective
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The whole thing also looks pretty—budget and midrange phones tend to be super boring, but the Pixel 8A has a smart design with a matte rear texture.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
28 Feb. 2025
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Buck is a loquacious, glad-handing oaf who has a boring way with a witty story, and is marked for death.—
Fred Schruers,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 2025
Interjection
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Highlights include a costume parade (for kids and parents), a Purim story and boo Haman and songs.—
Linda McIntosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2024
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Volunteer yourself to help with X, Y and Z accommodations if that lightens the family’s workload, without saying boo about the couple’s choices.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
18 Jan. 2024
Adjective
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The 2024-25 Bruins are slow, short on skill, inconsistent on defense and diminished in net.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
The Athletic,
8 Mar. 2025
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In Ukraine, the Biden administration’s timid slow rolling of weapons and ammunition deprived Ukraine of its best chance of victory, forcing it for years to fight with one hand behind its back.—
Jamie McIntyre,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This Atlético Madrid side is going from strength to strength and is showing little sign of tiring even as the pressure heats up.—
Sam Leveridge,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
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The first few years of being a parent can be among the most tiring as moms and dads try and often fail to get infants into a regular routine of unbroken sleep at night.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The fight was very dull and Ankalaev most held his way to the victory.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
-
Without their alternate selves to tug at them, these characters would be dull, dull, dull.—
Katy Waldman,
The New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Thank you Hallie for thinking of me and putting my name in your stupid brother's ear.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
24 Feb. 2025
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That would have been a stupid question just about anywhere else, but the exhibition was by Laura Owens, a painter with a penchant for trickery, and the venue was Matthew Marks Gallery in New York, whose press release for Owens’s latest outing offered little in the way of explanation.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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That reputation began in 70 C.E. when the mineral springs were directed into a massive bathhouse for weary Roman soldiers.—
Cat Sposato,
AFAR Media,
26 Feb. 2025
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On their way out of town, a Pale Rider on a horse – Death himself – saunters by in front of their car, with Hal giving the weary figure a small, knowing nod.—
Brian Truitt,
USA TODAY,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were the only players to hit that mark at 28 years old.—
Bobby Krivitsky,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
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In the Pig universe, which has now been running for two decades, George remains two years old and Peppa two years older.—
Caroline Frost,
Deadline,
1 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ho-hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ho-hum. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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