INANE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does inane mean? 

• INANE (adjective)
  The adjective INANE has 1 sense:

1. extremely silly or stupid

  Familiarity information: INANE used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INANE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Extremely silly or stupid

Synonyms:

asinine; fatuous; inane

Similar:

stupid (lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity)

Derivation:

inanity (total lack of meaning or ideas)

 Context examples 

"I grant that as authorities to quote they are most excellent—the two foremost literary critics in the United States. Every school teacher in the land looks up to Vanderwater as the Dean of American criticism. Yet I read his stuff, and it seems to me the perfection of the felicitous expression of the inane. Why, he is no more than a ponderous bromide, thanks to Gelett Burgess. And Praps is no better. His 'Hemlock Mosses,' for instance is beautifully written. Not a comma is out of place; and the tone—ah!—is lofty, so lofty. He is the best-paid critic in the United States. Though, Heaven forbid! he's not a critic at all. They do criticism better in England.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)