different between humdrum vs unimportant

English

Etymology

Possible reduplication of hum, 1550s.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?h?md??m/

Adjective

humdrum (comparative more humdrum, superlative most humdrum)

1. Lacking variety or excitement; dull; boring.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:boring

   • 1999, Lucy Honig, The Truly Needy And Other Stories, University of Pittsburgh Press (?ISBN), page 89:

     He suggested cusk, because he knew they would have it. She had never heard of cusk. “Doesn't it sound exotic!” she said. “Exotic indeed!” he laughed, and almost told her what a humdrum fish it really was, but stopped himself.

Translations

Noun

humdrum (countable and uncountable, plural humdrums)

1. (uncountable) The quality of lacking variety or excitement.

   Synonyms: dullness, monotony

   • 2010, Clare Vanderpool, Moon Over Manifest

     I think it helped distract us from the dry, humdrum, and heat of the here and now.

2. (countable, dated) A stupid fellow.
   • 1834, Elizabeth Frances Dagley, The Young Seer, Or Early Searches Into Futurity (page 103)

     So, after settling it that Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were complete country humdrums, the daughters hoydens, the sons awkward half-dandies, and the company altogether any thing but agreeable, she came to a conclusion she had done fifty times before, that the country was not like London.

Translations

English

Etymology

un- +? important

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??n?m?p??t?nt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??n?m?p??t?nt/
• (rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) IPA^(key): /??n?m?po(?)?t?nt/
• (non-rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) IPA^(key): /??n?m?po?.t?nt/

Adjective

unimportant (comparative more unimportant, superlative most unimportant)

1. petty; not important or noteworthy

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:insignificant

   Antonym: important

Derived terms

• unimportantly

Related terms

• unimportance

Translations