To overcome ennui means to successfully deal with or overcome feelings of boredom, dissatisfaction, or listlessness that arise when a person feels disinterested or unstimulated by their surroundings or activities. Ennui is a French word that has been adopted into English to describe a kind of existential boredom, often linked to a lack of purpose or excitement. Overcoming ennui involves finding ways to re-engage with life, either through new activities, perspectives, or by reigniting passion for things that once felt meaningful. In Indonesian, ennui can be translated as “kejenuhan,” and overcoming it would involve “mengatasi kejenuhan.”
Some synonyms for overcome ennui include: defeat boredom, combat apathy, break free from monotony, escape listlessness, shake off dullness, revive interest, reignite passion, overcome stagnation, beat lethargy, and escape weariness.
Example Sentences Using Overcome Ennui:
- I decided to take a weekend trip to the countryside to overcome my ennui and break away from the routine.
- After weeks of feeling uninspired, he found a new hobby that helped him overcome his ennui.
- Reading a good book or learning a new skill can be a great way to overcome ennui.
- She took up painting as a way to overcome ennui and rediscover her creativity.
- Traveling to new places is a fantastic way to overcome ennui and add excitement to your life.
- To overcome ennui, try surrounding yourself with people who bring positivity and energy into your life.
- The pandemic left many feeling stuck at home, but I found a way to overcome ennui by taking online courses.
- He sought out new challenges in his career to overcome ennui and keep himself engaged.
- Sometimes the best way to overcome ennui is simply to change your environment or routine.
- Overcoming ennui isn’t just about doing more; sometimes it’s about reconnecting with what truly excites you.
Related Words:
- Boredom
- Apathy
- Lethargy
- Monotony
- Listlessness
- Dullness
- Stagnation
- Fatigue
- Weariness
- Indifference
Phrasal Verbs Related to Overcome Ennui:
- Shake off (to overcome ennui or any negative feeling, like boredom or fatigue)
- Snap out of (to break free from feelings of ennui or disinterest)
- Spice up (to make something more exciting and overcome ennui)
- Break free from (to escape the feeling of being trapped in ennui or monotony)
- Live it up (to escape ennui by fully enjoying life and embracing new experiences)
- Get out of a rut (to move beyond a state of ennui or stagnation by trying new things)
- Jazz up (to make something more interesting or engaging, helping to overcome ennui)
- Lighten up (to stop being overly serious or dull, helping to overcome ennui)
Idiomatic Expressions Related to Overcome Ennui:
- Break the monotony (to do something different in order to overcome ennui or boredom)
- Find your spark (to reignite interest or excitement and overcome ennui)
- Kick the habit (to change a routine or lifestyle that leads to ennui)
- Get out of a funk (to recover from a state of boredom or depression, similar to overcoming ennui)
- Liven things up (to make something more lively and exciting, thus overcoming ennui)
- Turn over a new leaf (to change one’s behavior or perspective in order to overcome ennui and find fresh interest)
- Stir things up (to create change or excitement that helps overcome ennui)
- Breathe new life into (to reinvigorate something that has become dull or uninspiring, thus overcoming ennui)
- Wake up and smell the coffee (to stop being indifferent or bored and become more engaged or alert)
- Break out of the mold (to do something outside of the ordinary and overcome ennui in the process)
Overcoming ennui involves both an internal shift—changing your mindset or perspective—and often an external change, such as engaging in new activities or environments. Whether it’s taking up a new hobby, changing your routine, or simply re-engaging with things that once brought joy, the key is to actively seek ways to break free from the cycle of monotony and boredom.