INANITY Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

inanity

noun

i-ˈna-nə-tē

Definition of inanity

as in insanity

a foolish act or idea quickly realized that her suggestion was an inanity and withdrew it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in madness

lack of good sense or judgment the jaw-dropping inanity of the singer's comments on the awards show

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of inanity In fact, Poppick seems determined to prove that submerging yourself in the inanity of the grindset can pay creative dividends. — Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026 Moira was O’Hara in full sketch mode, charging each elaborate costume and line of dialogue with so much inanity the character should never have been believable as a real person. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026 In which SpongeBob and Gary the Snail have a conversation about string cheese, and the Flying Dutchman goes crazy at the sheer inanity of it. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Dec. 2025 The inanity and nihilism is still there, but tinged with something darker and more permanent, a sense that the rules of capitalism changed. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 19 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inanity

Recent Examples of Synonyms for inanity

Noun

Massachusetts law states that a person committed after a successful insanity defense can be recommitted over and over again, each time for a one-year period.

— Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Doing the same thing over again and expecting a different result is what some people call insanity.

— Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of insanity

Noun

Can a squad of scientists (including Kurt Russell) fight off madness and mayhem before the Thing overtakes them all?

— Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026
This week the madness leaps from the stage to the screen as Stamptown premieres its first Netflix special Tuesday.

— Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of madness

Noun

It’s been a classic staple over decades of British comedy, which from Basil Fawlty to David Brent has rejoiced in puncturing pomposity to reveal idiocy and incompetence.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
The school board’s radical idiocy does not negate the state’s obligation to think about the longer haul — specifically, the structurally unbalanced budgets facing Chicago Public Schools as far as the eye can see.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026