monotonous
Boring because it never changes.
monotonous in a sentence
- The monotonous hum of the fan nearly sent the whole class to sleep.
- The motorway journey felt monotonous, the same grey road repeating hour after hour.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to monotonous?
- Aexciting
- Blively
- Cvaried
- Dboring
Show the answer
D: boring. The other three mean the opposite of monotonous.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to monotonous?
- Aexciting
- Bdull
- Cboring
- Ddreary
Show the answer
A: exciting. The other three mean nearly the same as monotonous.
Words that mean something similar
boring, dull, dreary
Words that mean the opposite
exciting, varied, lively
Careful: monotonous is not tedious
Monotonous is about sameness. Tedious is sameness that goes on too long. Read why children mix them up.
More words about time & change
- mundane: Ordinary, dull and nothing special.
- obsolete: No longer used because something newer has replaced it.
- ordeal: A very difficult or unpleasant experience that goes on for some time.
- origin: The point where something begins or comes from.
- originate: To start or come from a particular place or time.
- overdue: Later than it should be.
- perish: To die, or to be destroyed or ruined.
- potential: Possible in the future, though not happening yet.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test