What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
monotonous
Example
The assembly line work was monotonous and tiring. [monotonous: adjective]
Example
The professor's lecture was so monotonous that many students fell asleep. [monotonous: adjective]
boring
Example
The movie was so boring that I fell asleep halfway through. [boring: adjective]
Example
I find data entry to be a very boring task. [boring: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Boring is more commonly used than monotonous in everyday language. Boring is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while monotonous is less common and refers to a specific type of uninteresting task or routine.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between monotonous and boring?
Both monotonous and boring are considered informal and casual words. However, monotonous may be slightly more formal due to its technical connotations in certain fields such as science or engineering.