ENNUI

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ennui mean? 

• ENNUI (noun)
  The noun ENNUI has 1 sense:

1. the feeling of being bored by something tedious

  Familiarity information: ENNUI used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ENNUI (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The feeling of being bored by something tedious

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

boredom; ennui; tedium

Hypernyms ("ennui" is a kind of...):

dissatisfaction (the feeling of being displeased and discontent)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ennui"):

blahs (a general feeling of boredom and dissatisfaction)

fatigue ((always used with a modifier) boredom resulting from overexposure to something)

 Context examples 

“It saved me from ennui,” he answered, yawning.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It keeps us from ennui and mischief, is good for health and spirits, and gives us a sense of power and independence better than money or fashion.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Perhaps Mrs. Jennings was in hopes, by this vigorous sketch of their future ennui, to provoke him to make that offer, which might give himself an escape from it;—and if so, she had soon afterwards good reason to think her object gained; for, on Elinor's moving to the window to take more expeditiously the dimensions of a print, which she was going to copy for her friend, he followed her to it with a look of particular meaning, and conversed with her there for several minutes.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

She knew that at times she must be missed; and could not think, without pain, of Emma's losing a single pleasure, or suffering an hour's ennui, from the want of her companionableness: but dear Emma was of no feeble character; she was more equal to her situation than most girls would have been, and had sense, and energy, and spirits that might be hoped would bear her well and happily through its little difficulties and privations.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

If one could have a fine house, full of nice girls, or go traveling, the summer would be delightful, but to stay at home with three selfish sisters and a grown-up boy was enough to try the patience of a Boaz, complained Miss Malaprop, after several days devoted to pleasure, fretting, and ennui.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)