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

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 notes

In 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

insane →

Common pairings

inane comment inane chatter utterly inane

Word forms

inaner comparative, more inane comparative, inanes plural, inanest superlative, most inane superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “inane” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

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.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for inane

cane lane Dane mane vane pane bane sane wane Jane fane Zane

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.