humdrum

Possible reduplication of hum, 1550s.

• (UK, US) IPA: /ˈhʌmˌdɹʌm/, X-SAMPA: /"hVm%drVm/

humdrum (comparative more humdrum, superlative most humdrum)

1. Lacking variety or excitement; dull; boring.
   • 2017 November 10, Daniel Taylor, “Youthful England earn draw with Germany but Lingard rues late miss”, in The Guardian (London)‎:

     With that kind of line-up it was probably inevitable that there would be a few spells when England looked what they were: a team that was trying to find some rhythm, unbeaten for eight years in humdrum qualifying groups but still not entirely sure about whether that makes them any good.

humdrum (countable and uncountable, plural humdrums)

1. (uncountable) The quality of lacking variety or excitement; dullness; monotony.
   • 2010, Clare Vanderpool, Moon Over Manifest

     I think it helped distract us from the dry, humdrum, and heat of the here and now.

2. (countable, dated) A stupid fellow.
   • 1834, Elizabeth Frances Dagley, The Young Seer, Or Early Searches Into Futurity (page 103)

     So, after settling it that Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were complete country humdrums, the daughters hoydens, the sons awkward half-dandies, and the company altogether any thing but agreeable, she came to a conclusion she had done fifty times before, that the country was not like London.

• See also Thesaurus:boring