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tedious
/ˈtiːdiəs/
boring and time-consuming
The meeting was so tedious that half the team fell asleep.
The meeting was extremely boring and lasted for a long time, making people lose interest.
formal
Too long, slow, or dull; tiresome or monotonous.
Filling out the paperwork was a tedious task that took hours.
Completing the forms was a slow and boring process.
She found the lecture tedious and struggled to stay awake.
The lecture was so dull that she had difficulty paying attention.
Often used to describe repetitive or uninteresting activities that require sustained effort.
Collocations
tedious workwork that is boring and takes a long timetedious processa slow and dull procedure
Pro Tip
Avoid redundancy
Pair 'tedious' with specific nouns to clarify what is boring (e.g., 'tedious paperwork' vs. just 'tedious').
Gold Rule
Use for sustained effort, not brief discomfort
'Tedious' implies prolonged boredom, not a one-time unpleasant experience.
Word Origin
From Latin *taediosus* (wearisome), from *taedium* (boredom, disgust), related to *taedere* (to weary, disgust).
Usage Notes
Commonly used in both spoken and written English, especially to describe tasks or activities that feel endless and uninteresting. Avoid overusing it in formal writing where precision is key.
Word Breakdown
ted-
from Latin *taedium* (boredom)
root-ious
suffix forming adjectives (full of, characterized by)
suffixEnglish Dictionary