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Synonym Chooser

How is the word mundane distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words earthly and worldly are common synonyms of mundane. While all three words mean "belonging to or characteristic of the earth," mundane suggests reference to the immediate and practical.

a mundane discussion of finances

In what contexts can earthly take the place of mundane?

While in some cases nearly identical to mundane, earthly often implies a contrast with what is heavenly or spiritual.

abandoned earthly concerns and entered a convent

How are the words worldly and mundane related?

Worldly and mundane both imply a relation to the immediate concerns and activities of human beings, worldly suggesting tangible personal gain or gratification.

worldly goods

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mundane Anthropic says the assistant could be a tool for automating mundane aspects of the workday rather than eliminating roles. Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 22 May 2025 Intelligent agents automatically manage mundane tasks, reducing both human and software costs while enabling rapid deployment across diverse industries. Rafael Flores, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025 Few touristy gimmicks are more touristy or more gimmicky than a spinning restaurant, which efficiently combines observation-deck gawking with the mundane necessity of eating dinner. Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 18 May 2025 This quirky habit has turned the mundane chore of vacuuming into a daily spectacle of feline fun. Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for mundane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mundane
Adjective
  • President Donald Trump's sweeping tax and policy bill that would change Americans' everyday lives has cleared one big hurdle after several marathon days of negotiations in the U.S. House and an assist from the president himself.
    Riley Beggin, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Come nighttime, its bars come alive with hip young locals having a good time, making this a great spot to spend an evening basking in everyday local life.
    Jennifer Fernández Solano, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Though the papal tiara, symbolizing spiritual, temporal and supreme power, is still revered, no pope has worn it since Paul VI (1963-1978), who sold his for charity.
    NBC News, NBC news, 18 May 2025
  • Those questions are, so often, temporal and corporeal.
    Editorial, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • Related Stories The Mogami Terra Tech’s biological and engineered materials combine in natural shades like camouflage fatigues, extracted from terrestrial environments saturated with brush, soil and clay.
    Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 26 May 2025
  • That would mean another UK asset for RedBird, the terrestrial network Channel 5.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • It's been a season where physical strength and unwavering loyalty have held more weight than the deception and betrayal commonly found in previous seasons of the long-running reality competition show.
    Emily DeLetter, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Thanks to therapy and physical rehab, Foxx has come a long way since then.
    Staff Author, EW.com, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • In 2022, the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 paved the way for alternatives to animal testing, and in December 2023, an NIH advisory committee made similar recommendations to develop non-animal methods.
    Rachel Fobar, Vox, 14 May 2025
  • Rendering is a process that transforms animal by-products, like leftover meat and fats...and yes, chicken feet, into usable materials, such as animal feed, fuel, and other industrial products.
    Phil Kafarakis, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • They are lined with stainless steel and their flip-up tops reveal beetles swarming the earthly remains of various small animals, mostly birds.
    Corey Kilgannon, New York Times, 13 May 2025
  • From the time of its populist founding, the Christian Church professed profound optimism about life, both earthly and eternal.
    Richard D. Mahoney, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The 36-year-old faces a charge of collision involving serious bodily injury, according to police records.
    Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 May 2025
  • The 1862 pension law allocated payouts in proportion to a soldier’s permanent bodily injury or disability caused by their service.
    Jamie Rowen, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • But after loading all her worldly possessions into the back of Sam’s decaying van-cab, what should have been a simple fare becomes a wild, late-night odyssey.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 6 May 2025
  • Experiencing new cultures, unique attractions, indigenous cuisine and never-before-tried activities are all part of the worldly adventure.
    Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mundane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mundane. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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