inane C2+ Topic:Materials & Substances US /ɪˈneɪn/ UK /ɪˈneɪn/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adj silly, empty, and lacking sense or substance The talk-show host filled the airtime with inane chatter. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · silly, empty, and lacking... sillyfatuousvapidvacuoussenselessemptyfoolish ↔ Opposites sensibleprofoundmeaningfulsubstantial Word family Derived forms inanelyinanity Related forms inanition Etymology AI details From Latin inanis ('empty, void, vain'), of uncertain ultimate origin. inanis Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Materials & Substances External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # inane **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /ɪˈneɪn/ **IPA (UK):** /ɪˈneɪn/ ## Meanings 1. silly, empty, and lacking sense or substance ## Examples - The talk-show host filled the airtime with inane chatter. ## Synonyms - silly - fatuous - vapid - vacuous - senseless - empty - foolish ## Antonyms - sensible - profound - meaningful - substantial ## Derived Forms - inanely - inanity ## Related Forms - inanition ## Roots and Affixes - Root: inanis ## Etymology From Latin inanis ('empty, void, vain'), of uncertain ultimate origin. ## AI Etymology Inane comes from Latin inanis ('empty, void, vain'), of uncertain ultimate origin. The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As an adjective, it carries the sense "silly, empty, and lacking sense or substance", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Latin inanis. Derivative forms include inanely, inanity; related words include inanition. ## Topics - Materials & Substances markdown