inanity

noun

inan·​i·​ty i-ˈna-nə-tē How to pronounce inanity (audio)
plural inanities
1
: the quality or state of being inane: such as
a
: vapid, pointless, or fatuous character : shallowness
b
: lack of substance : emptiness
2
: something that is inane

Examples of inanity in a Sentence

quickly realized that her suggestion was an inanity and withdrew it the jaw-dropping inanity of the singer's comments on the awards show
Recent Examples on the Web This is too much for reviewers accustomed to simplistic sci-fi/comic-book formula, overrating the inanity of Damian Chazelle’s First Man and preferring Gravity to the depth and beauty of De Palma’s Mission to Mars. Armond White, National Review, 8 Mar. 2024 Poor Things François Ozon’s delirious feminist farce captures the inanity of the #MeToo movement. Armond White, National Review, 5 Jan. 2024 The over-all direction of Musk’s changes hasn’t been too surprising, but the magnitude of the shift—the sheer inanity of it—still shocks me. Sheon Han, The New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2024 Such moments of forthrightness land like information drops when layered between the ongoing inanity of Oakbeds. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Sep. 2023 Their Imelda is a victim of poverty and mistreatment, dim despite her cunning and innocent by reason of inanity. Jesse Green, New York Times, 21 July 2023 Silicon Valley’s shamans and charlatans regularly speak with such an astonishing blend of vanity, inanity and obliviousness that there isn’t much left for an enterprising satirist to add, but Hornsby’s descriptions frequently draw blood. Ron Charles, Washington Post, 4 July 2023 All this inanity is set to tracks by the Mexican big band La Sonora Santanera and the lounge music of Les Baxter, sounds that occasion some hip swaying amid the histrionics and hissing. Brian Seibert, New York Times, 4 June 2023 Such is life in purgatory, where Jody Allen and her Vulcan Inc. brethren roost, presiding over the paradoxical inanity of two opposing truths: The Blazers must be sold. Bill Oram, oregonlive, 5 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inanity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inanity was in 1603

Dictionary Entries Near inanity

Cite this Entry

“Inanity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inanity. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

inanity

noun
inan·​i·​ty in-ˈan-ət-ē How to pronounce inanity (audio)
plural inanities
1
: the quality or state of being inane
2
: something inane

More from Merriam-Webster on inanity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!