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tedious

Say it: TEE-dee-us /ˈtidiəs/ · adjective

What “tedious” means

So long or repetitive that it becomes boring.

More precisely: Too long, slow or repetitive to hold your interest.

Example: “Filling in expense reports is tedious, so I batch them on Friday afternoons.”

When to use it

For jobs or experiences that drag on and repeat themselves. Usually a complaint in everyday talk or at work.

Similar words

boring, monotonous, wearisome

Where it comes from

From Latin taedium, "weariness."

Quick check

You spend hours sticking identical labels onto hundreds of envelopes, repeating the same movement. Which word describes the task?

arduous or tedious?

Show the answer

tedious

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