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noun C1 Advanced

monotony

muh-NO-tuh-nee

Monotony (noun) means the state of being tediously repetitive or unchanging. Example: “She took up painting to break the monotony of long winter evenings.”

noun
1
The state of being tediously repetitive or unchanging.
"She took up painting to break the monotony of long winter evenings."

How to use monotony

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe dullness that comes from doing or seeing the same thing repeatedly.

Common pairings
break the monotony daily monotony

Word forms

monotonies plural

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She took up painting to break the _____ of long winter evenings.

Etymology

From French monotonie, ultimately from Greek monotonia, "sameness of tone."

Origin: French

Antonyms

Related words

Rhymes for monotony

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Frequently asked questions

What does “monotony” mean?

The word “monotony” means the state of being tediously repetitive or unchanging. In plain terms, the dullness that comes from doing or seeing the same thing repeatedly.

How do you pronounce “monotony”?

“Monotony” is pronounced muh-NO-tuh-nee (/məˈnɑtəni/ in IPA).

How do you use “monotony” in a sentence?

Here is “monotony” used in a sentence: “She took up painting to break the monotony of long winter evenings.”

What is another word for “monotony”?

Words with a similar meaning to “monotony” include sameness.

What is the opposite of “monotony”?

The opposite of “monotony” — its antonyms — is polytony.

What part of speech is “monotony”?

“Monotony” is a noun.

Where does the word “monotony” come from?

The word “monotony” comes from French. From French monotonie, ultimately from Greek monotonia, "sameness of tone.".

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