ennui

Definition

A gripping listlessness or melancholia caused by boredom; depression.

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from French ennui, from Old French enui (“annoyance”), from enuier (modern French ennuyer), from Late Latin inodiō, from Latin in odiō (“hated”). Doublet of annoy.

Example Sentences

• "There have always been individuals who toy with the political extremes out of a sort of high-class ennui."