monotonous
UK: məˈnɒtənəs | US: məˈnɑːtənəs
adj. lacking in variety; tediously unvarying
adj. (of sound or speech) having a single tone or pitch
monotonous = mono<single> + ton<tone> + ous<adjective suffix>
- mono (from Greek monos, meaning "single" or "alone")
- ton (from Greek tonos, meaning "tone" or "pitch")
- ous (a suffix forming adjectives, indicating "full of" or "having the quality of")
Etymology Origin:
The word monotonous originates from the Greek monotonos, combining monos (single) and tonos (tone). It initially described sounds or speech with little variation in pitch. Over time, it broadened to describe anything repetitive or lacking diversity, reflecting the human aversion to unvaried patterns. The logical progression—from literal single-tone sounds to metaphorical tedium—highlights how sensory experiences shape abstract expressions of boredom.
The lecturer's monotonous voice made it hard to stay awake.
The landscape was monotonous, with nothing but flat fields for miles.
Factory work can become monotonous after years of repetition.
She tried to vary her speech to avoid sounding monotonous.
The movie's plot was predictable and monotonous, lacking any surprises.