tedium
gb/tˈidiəm/ us/tˈidiəm/
C1
English
unalom, egyhangúság
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
1
unalom
A2
Usage pattern:
the tedium of [activity/situation]
After a week of data entry, the tedium was hard to ignore.
Egy hét adatbevitel után már nehéz volt figyelmen kívül hagyni az unalmat.
He tried to hide his tedium during the long safety presentation.
Megpróbálta leplezni az unalmát a hosszú munkavédelmi előadás alatt.
Music helped her get through the tedium of the commute.
Learner examples
The tedium of the job made him unhappy.
A munkával járó unalom boldogtalanná tette.
I listen to podcasts to break the tedium.
Podcastokat hallgatok, hogy elűzzem az unalmat.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse the noun tedium with the adjective tedious (e.g., not “a tedium task” but “a tedious task”).
Meaning
boredom from monotony
Collocations
endless tedium
|sheer tedium
|mind-numbing tedium
|the tedium of paperwork
|the tedium of meetings
|relieve the tedium
|break the tedium
|escape the tedium
|sink into tedium
|drag into tedium
Synonyms
boredom (More general and more common than tedium.)
|
monotony (Emphasizes repetition as the cause of boredom.)
|
ennui (More literary; can suggest a deeper, habitual boredom.)
Antonyms
excitement (The opposite of feeling bored or restless.)
|
interest (Being mentally engaged instead of bored.)
Themes
emotions
|daily_life
|work
Definition
a strong feeling of boredom because something is repetitive
A feeling of boredom and impatience caused by something dull, repetitive, or too long.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
2
egyhangúság
B2
Usage pattern:
the tedium of [task/process]
Automation can remove much of the tedium from payroll processing.
Az automatizálás a bérszámfejtés egyhangúságának nagy részét megszüntetheti.
They streamlined the process to cut the tedium of repeated approvals.
Egyszerűsítették a folyamatot, hogy csökkentsék az ismétlődő jóváhagyások egyhangúságát.
The app is designed to handle the tedium of scheduling.
Learner examples
This tool reduces the tedium of copying files.
Ez az eszköz csökkenti a fájlmásolás egyhangúságát.
We changed the routine to avoid the tedium.
Megváltoztattuk a rutint, hogy elkerüljük az egyhangúságot.
Common mistake:
Don’t use tedium to mean general difficulty; it specifically suggests dull repetition or overlong detail.
Meaning
dull repetitive character
Collocations
administrative tedium
|clerical tedium
|routine tedium
|the tedium of cleaning
|the tedium of filling out forms
|the tedium of revision
|spare someone the tedium
|avoid the tedium
|reduce the tedium
|the sheer tedium of it
Synonyms
drudgery (Stresses unpleasant, tiring routine work.)
|
monotony (Highlights sameness and repetition.)
|
tediousness (A direct synonym; slightly more abstract.)
Antonyms
variety (Contrasts with repetitive sameness.)
|
stimulation (Contrasts with dullness and lack of engagement.)
Themes
work
|daily_life
|education
Definition
the quality of being long, repetitive, and boring
The dull, repetitive, or over-detailed quality of an activity, task, or situation.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tedium
IPA
GB/tˈidiəm/
US/tˈidiəm/
Syllables & stress
te - di - um (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (te)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tedium
- Plural: tedium
Expressions
break the tedium
1/bɹˈeɪk ðə tˈidiəm/
fixed phrase
stop something being boring
to make a boring situation less boring by adding something new
Examples
- They played a quick game to break the tedium of waiting.
- A short walk can break the tedium of studying all afternoon.
- He told a joke to break the tedium in the room.
Learner examples
- We took a break to break the tedium.
- Music helps break the tedium of work.
ease the tedium
1/ˈiz ðə tˈidiəm/
fixed phrase
formal
reduce boredom slightly
to make boredom smaller or weaker
Examples
- Background music can ease the tedium of routine tasks.
- He used a checklist to ease the tedium of inspections.
- A change of pace eased the tedium of the schedule.
Learner examples
- Music can ease the tedium.
- We talked to ease the tedium.
escape the tedium
1/ɪskˈeɪp ðə tˈidiəm/
fixed phrase
formal
get away from boredom
to get away from something boring
Examples
- On weekends they hike to escape the tedium of office life.
- She moved to a new team to escape the tedium of the same tasks.
- He read novels at night to escape the tedium of his day.
Learner examples
- I travel to escape the tedium.
- We went outside to escape the tedium.
relieve the tedium
1/ɹɪlˈiv ðə tˈidiəm/
fixed phrase
formal
make boredom easier to bear
to make something boring feel less boring
Examples
- She listened to audiobooks to relieve the tedium of traffic.
- Free coffee helped relieve the tedium of the long workshop.
- Chatting quietly relieved the tedium of sorting files.
Learner examples
- I read to relieve the tedium.
- Podcasts relieve the tedium of cleaning.