Dictionary

1inane

adjective \i-ˈnān\

: very silly or stupid

inan·erinan·est

Full Definition of INANE

2
:  lacking significance, meaning, or point :  silly <inane comments>
inane·ly adverb
inane·ness \-ˈnān-nəs\ noun
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Examples of INANE

  1. All around us swirls the battering of gargantuan films, Styrofoam epics with megatons of special effects, gleefully inane adolescent films, horror films that really are horrible. —Stanley Kauffmann, New Republic, 15 Mar. 2004

Origin of INANE

Latin inanis
First Known Use: 1662

Synonym Discussion of INANE

insipid, vapid, flat, jejune, banal, inane mean devoid of qualities that make for spirit and character. insipid implies a lack of sufficient taste or savor to please or interest <an insipid romance with platitudes on every page>. vapid suggests a lack of liveliness, force, or spirit <an exciting story given a vapid treatment>. flat applies to things that have lost their sparkle or zest <although well-regarded in its day, the novel now seems flat>. jejune suggests a lack of rewarding or satisfying substance <a jejune and gassy speech>. banal stresses the complete absence of freshness, novelty, or immediacy <a banal tale of unrequited love>. inane implies a lack of any significant or convincing quality <an inane interpretation of the play>.

2inane

noun \i-ˈnān\

Definition of INANE

:  void or empty space <a voyage into the limitless inane — V. G. Childe>

Examples of INANE

  1. And thus likewise we sometimes speak of place, distance, or bulk in the great inane beyond the confines of the world. —John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, 1689

Origin of INANE

(see 1inane)
First Known Use: 1677
INANENESS Defined for Kids

inane

adjective \i-ˈnān\

Definition of INANE for Kids

:  silly and pointless <inane remarks>

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