adjective
inane
ih-NAYN
adjective
1
Silly, pointless, or lacking any real substance — often to an annoying degree.
"The meeting was full of inane small talk that went nowhere."
"He asked an inane question that had already been answered twice."
How to Use Inane
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething so silly or empty of meaning that it's almost annoying.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "insane," which means mentally unwell or extreme — "inane" just means silly or pointless.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
inane comment
inane chatter
utterly inane
Word Forms
inaner comparative, more inane comparative, inanes plural, inanest superlative, most inane superlative
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The meeting was full of _____ small talk that went nowhere.
Etymology
From Latin inānis, meaning "empty" or "useless," of unknown deeper origin.