MUNDANE Synonyms: 108 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'mundane' distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words earthly and worldly are common synonyms of mundane . While all three words mean "belonging to or characteristic of the earth," mundane suggests reference to the immediate and practical. // a mundane discussion of finances

Q: In what contexts can 'earthly' take the place of 'mundane'?

While in some cases nearly identical to mundane , earthly often implies a contrast with what is heavenly or spiritual. // abandoned earthly concerns and entered a convent

Q: How are the words 'worldly' and 'mundane' related?

Worldly and mundane both imply a relation to the immediate concerns and activities of human beings, worldly suggesting tangible personal gain or gratification. // worldly goods

mundane

adjective

ˌmən-ˈdān

Definition of mundane

as in everyday

having to do with the practical details of regular life they didn't want to be bothered with mundane concerns like doing the dishes while on vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in temporal

having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven a period for reflection and penitence, when spiritual concerns should take precedence over those that are mundane

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mundane distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words earthly and worldly are common synonyms of mundane. While all three words mean "belonging to or characteristic of the earth," mundane suggests reference to the immediate and practical.

a mundane discussion of finances

In what contexts can earthly take the place of mundane?

While in some cases nearly identical to mundane, earthly often implies a contrast with what is heavenly or spiritual.

abandoned earthly concerns and entered a convent

How are the words worldly and mundane related?

Worldly and mundane both imply a relation to the immediate concerns and activities of human beings, worldly suggesting tangible personal gain or gratification.

worldly goods

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of mundane As head of the local Chamber of Commerce, Charla Robinson attends her share of ribbon cuttings and mundane company announcements in Thunder Bay, a Canadian city of more than 100,000 on the western shore of Lake Superior. — Sara Llana, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Oct. 2026 Renovations on the institution include updates to aging technical infrastructure, such as climate-control systems and elevators, and fixes to more mundane issues such as roof leaks. — News Desk, Artforum, 12 Oct. 2026 The original pictures are low quality—at once smeary, ominous, and mundane. — Hilton Als, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Savage’s movie is so committed to its own absurdity that the extraordinary begins to feel mundane. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mundane

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mundane

Adjective

Williams aims to help build a county government that works for everyday people by lowering the cost of living, delivering excellent county services and protecting fundamental rights.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2026
And those costs are making the arithmetic of life too difficult for everyday people.

— NBC news, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of everyday

Adjective

High dynamic range, 4K finishing and temporal consistency remain significant challenges, even as Eyeline advances its own solutions.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
The team tested whether the hardware could distinguish temporal patterns using four consecutive input signals that could each be switched on or off.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of temporal

Adjective

That’s why the stocks reacted, because people finally came to terms with the fact that Elon is actually going to build a terrestrial network.

— Nilay Patel, The Verge, 17 Oct. 2026
Too aquatic for roads, yet too terrestrial for boats, boglands remain some of the most remote and difficult landscapes to access.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of terrestrial

Adjective

Habits are usually paired with physical or emotional cues, and disrupting those cues can disrupt the habit.

— Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
There was also a physical dispute between Parillo and Amy Helm after her removal, during which police were called to LHS in Woodstock.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of physical

Adjective

Vegetable Oils Vegetable and seed oils are some of the richest non-animal dietary sources of CoQ10.

— Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 16 July 2026
Computer models and other non-animal testing methods still aren’t the best available science, critics contend.

— Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026

Definition of animal

Adjective

The lounge is a real scene, especially during afternoon tea, when a perfectly coiffed crowd has hushed discussions about worldly matters.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
The pair have just been evicted from their apartment, coming home from church to find all of their worldly possessions on the stairs.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of worldly

Adjective

Brian Peralta Cabrera, 18, of Queens, was charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and serious bodily injury.

— Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026
The parents admit to some corporal punishment, but of a mild sort—the kind that might startle a child but which wouldn’t do bodily harm.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of bodily

Browse Nearby Words

munching

mundane

mundaneness

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“Mundane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mundane. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of mundane

adjective

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