ennui
/ɒnˈwiː/ (bre, ipa) · /ɑːnˈwiː/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌän-ˈwē/ (ame, mw)
ennui — noun
1. a heavy, restless discontent that settles in when life feels empty of meaning or
a heavy, restless discontent that settles in when life feels empty of meaning or stimulation — deeper than ordinary boredom because it carries a sense of tiredness and dissatisfaction
On rainy Sunday afternoons, Amara often sank into a deep ennui that no book could lift.
collocation: sink into (a deep) ennui
Dimitri described his office job as 'well-paid ennui' — the same grey cubicle, the same pointless meetings every day.
creative collocation: well-paid ennui
After three months of retirement, a quiet ennui began to creep over Zara's once-busy days.
The old cafe held empty cups, scattered newspapers, and the thick ennui of a small town after lunch.
Hassan tried learning guitar, but the ennui of practising scales alone soon drained his enthusiasm.
- boredom
everyday, temporary; lacks the weight and weariness of ennui
- listlessness
emphasises lack of energy; does not necessarily imply dissatisfaction
- weariness
focuses on tiredness; the cause may be physical, not existential
- tedium
describes the boring quality of a task or situation, not the inner feeling
- excitement
a state of lively interest and engagement
- enthusiasm
eager enjoyment and active interest
用法筆記
More formal and literary than 'boredom'; describes a lasting, often existential weariness rather than a passing mood. Common in philosophical and critical writing.