The word “ennui” is very uncommon in the English language. This means that the word is hardly used by a lot of people in their speeches and when they are writing. This happens because a lot of people are not familiar with the word and do not have any understanding of the word and its usage. You are probably wondering, how should we use the word “ennui” when writing? Well, you are in the right place.
The word “ennui” is a noun that refers to a feeling of fatigue, weariness, or dissatisfaction. It is used to say you are not interested in something or you are bored by it. An example of the use of the word is you will suffer from ennui if you had to stay in the hospital for three weeks.
There are lots of things you have to learn before using the word “ennui” correctly. Not to worry though, we have you covered in this article.
What Does The Word “Ennui” Mean?
It is advised that you must not use a word in a sentence without having an in-depth knowledge of that word. By doing so, you are creating barriers in communication as people will find your writings very difficult to read and understand.
We will look at the meaning, the origin, and the nature of the word “ennui.” This is vital if you intend to use the word correctly in a sentence. Having a comprehensive understanding of the word “ennui” is the guarantee you have to use it effectively when you are writing or communicating.
Let us explore the origin also known as the etymology of the word “ennui”.
The word “ennui” is borrowed from the French which is from an old French word “ennui” (which means annoyance), gotten from “enuier” (which is “ennuyer” in Modern French). And it is gotten from the Late Latin word “inodiō” from the Latin word “in odiō” (meaning “hated”).
Next, we will check out some of the meanings of the word “ennui.”
When we use the word “ennui,” we refer to the feeling of boredom or being mentally tired which is a result of having nothing exciting or interesting to do. It is the feeling of dissatisfaction and weariness.
It can also be defined as the lack of energy a person feels, which is caused by a vague dissatisfaction with everything in general. It refers to the feeling of listlessness that results from a lack of interest.
It is the feeling of utter discontentment, melancholia, and weariness that results from a lack of interest, boredom, or satiety. It also refers to a wearisome or painful state of the mind, caused by a desire for attention or the want for an object of interest.
The nature of the word “ennui” refers to the form the word takes in a sentence as well as the part of speech it is categorized under. The word “ennui” is a noun, when you use it in a sentence, it functions as a naming word.
Synonyms and Antonyms of the word “Ennui”
When we talk about the synonyms of the word “ennui,” we refer to other words with the same meaning as the word “ennui.” We will delve into some of the synonyms of the word “ennui.” Some of the synonyms are:
- Boredom
- Lethargy
- Restlessness
- Melancholy
- Dejection
- Depression
- Tedium
- Weariness
- Uneasiness
- Dissatisfaction
- Malaise
- Listlessness
- Tiredness
- Fatigue
- Languor
We will provide some examples that show the use of the synonyms of the word “ennui” in a sentence.
Examples with “ennui”
- Despite feeling ennui, John was able to motivate himself and complete his school project.
- After spending many hours in traffic, the band felt a sense of ennui and dissatisfaction.
Examples with the synonyms of “ennui”
- Despite his feeling of lethargy, John was able to motivate himself and complete his school project.
- After spending many hours in traffic, the band felt a sense of fatigue and dissatisfaction.
From the examples above, you will notice that when we use the “lethargy,” the synonym of “ennui,” we needed to rewrite the first sentence to fit the word. This shows that not all synonyms will be accurate when used exactly how the word “ennui” is used in a sentence.
Next, we will dive into the antonyms of the word “ennui,” i.e. words that have an opposite meaning to the word “ennui.” The synonyms of the word “ennui” are:
- Excitement
- Beguilement
- Captivation
- Enchantment
- Invigoration
- Amusement
- Entertainment
- Energy
- Vigor
- Enthusiasm
- Liveliness
- Happiness
- Cheerfulness
- Enjoyment
- Exhilaration
Examples of how you can use the antonyms of “ennui” in a sentence.
Examples with the antonyms of “ennui”
- Most recruiting officers want to gauge your motivation and enthusiasm in desiring a job with their organization.
- The new teacher was able to engage her students and ensure a high level of participation by being lively and captivating.
- I could feel the vein of cheerfulness in the sprightly music that frames the piece.
You will notice that the antonyms used in the examples convey a meaning that is opposite to the word “ennui.”
How to Properly Use “Ennui” In A Sentence
We will examine how the word “ennui” can be used correctly in a sentence now that you understand the meaning, the origin, nature, the antonyms, and the synonyms.
The word “ennui” is used to describe an intense feeling of boredom. Some refer to it as sophisticated boredom. It implies a sense of disillusionment that is a result of having an unrealized potential or a discontented intelligence.
When a person is weighed down by dampening emotions that cause a person to have dull experiences and perceive everyday life as pointless and meaningless, you use the word “ennui” to capture and explain it in a sentence.
Some claim “ennui” is equated with a dawning sense of maturity or awareness, meaning only adults can experience it. So you cannot use the word “ennui” to describe boredom or dissatisfaction in children.
“Ennui” is a very distinct adult feeling and it can be used to connote either snobbish indolence or elegance and intellect.
Another essential thing you must be aware of is the word “ennui” can be used in both singular and collective sense. This means you can use the word “ennui” to describe the feeling of boredom by a group of people.
The plural of “ennui” is “ennui.” Most people expect the plural to be “ennuis,” but it is not. “Ennuis” is a modern French word that has a different meaning to “ennui.”
The word “ennuis” means “trouble” in the English language which has nothing to do with “ennui.” By adding “s” to “ennui,” you not only switch the meanings but you are also changing to a different language.
Illustrative Examples on how to use the word “Ennui”
For better clarity and understanding of the use of the word “ennui,” here are some examples.
- The environment a person is in plays a crucial role in the creation of ennui, unhappiness, anger, despair, and alienation.
- Most of the animals you will find in the zoo are in a place in-between ennui and world-weariness.
- It is very difficult overcoming the feeling of ennui associated with the thought of another boring and uneventful day ahead.
- Joe has become so attached to the books, even in pain, ennui, and desolation, he finds comfort and purpose in them.
- Dave told me, if he spent another weekend alone in his house with nothing to do, he will die of ennui.
- Since Joseph lost his job in the financial sector, he has been overcome by intense feelings of ennui.
- The servants in the castle relieved their ennui by gambling and gossiping about their employers.
- You will find a lot of people wearing a cheerful smile, but deep down they are suffering from ennui.
- The class was full of ennui but the lecturer spiced it up by initiating engaging classroom interactions and discussions.
- The homeless man began to have feelings of ennui after been on the run from hood gangs for months.
- It is advised you switch to a more exciting and fulfilling career if you have an ennui for working at your current job.
- After June experienced an ennui of disappointment her heart became empty and she lost all motivation and inclination to push through life.
- Victor got rid of the ennui of traveling alone by singing, whistling, screaming, dancing, and jumping around.
- Sarah vowed to study very hard, graduate in flying colors, get a good job, and leave no time for discontentment and ennui.
- After having that nasty experience, Jude was enveloped in a feeling of depression and ennui.
A look at these examples given will give you an insight into how to correctly use the word “ennui” in a sentence.
Final Thoughts
You have no reason to be confused when you come across the word “ennui” in a sentence. All the understanding you need to use the word is embedded in this article.
So, read on and study this to get the knowledge.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.