adjective
inane
ih-NAYN
Inane (adjective) means Silly, pointless, or lacking any real substance — often to an annoying degree. Example: “The meeting was full of inane small talk that went nowhere.”
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
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Word forms
- Plural
- inanes
- Comparative
- inaner, more inane
- Superlative
- inanest, most inane
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The meeting was full of _____ small talk that went nowhere.
Etymology
From Latin inānis, meaning "empty" or "useless," of unknown deeper origin.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for inane
See all rhymes for inane →Frequently asked questions
What does “inane” mean?
The word “inane” means silly, pointless, or lacking any real substance — often to an annoying degree. In plain terms, something so silly or empty of meaning that it's almost annoying.
How do you pronounce “inane”?
“Inane” is pronounced ih-NAYN (/ɪˈneɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “inane” in a sentence?
Here is “inane” used in a sentence: “The meeting was full of inane small talk that went nowhere.”
What part of speech is “inane”?
“Inane” is an adjective.
Where does the word “inane” come from?
The word “inane” comes from Latin. From Latin inānis, meaning "empty" or "useless," of unknown deeper origin.
