Boredom is a complex emotional state that is often associated with feelings of disinterest, restlessness, and apathy. While it is commonly viewed as a negative experience, boredom can also be seen as an opportunity for growth and creativity. From a psychological perspective, boredom can be caused by a variety of factors, including a lack of stimulation, a sense of disconnection from one's surroundings, and a feeling of helplessness or lack of control. In some cases, boredom can also be a symptom of underlying mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety. One of the key aspects of boredom is its subjective nature. What one person finds boring may be engaging and stimulating to another. Additionally, the experience of boredom can vary depending on a variety of factors, such as age, personality, and cultural background. For example, children may experience boredom differently than adults, and individuals from different cultural backgrounds may have different expectations and preferences when it comes to entertainment and leisure activities. Despite its negative connotations, boredom can also have positive effects. Research has shown that boredom can stimulate creativity and problem-solving skills, as individuals are forced to find new ways to engage with their surroundings. Additionally, boredom can be a catalyst for personal growth and self-reflection, as individuals are given the opportunity to examine their values, goals, and priorities.
emotion, disinterest, restlessness, apathy, negative, growth, creativity, subjective, stimulation, mental health, personality, culture, problem-solving, self-reflection
CITATION : "Matthew James. 'Bored.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=366160 (Accessed on June 29, 2025)"
From a linguistic perspective, Bored is an emotion or feeling of discontent or restlessness due to a lack of interest in the activity at hand. The emotion of boredom is commonly associated with feelings of dejection and apathy, as well as a general lack of motivation and engagement in an activity. In other languages, words that are synonymous with this feeling include ennui (French), desgano (Spanish), Langeweile (German) manque d’intérêt (Swiss French), ikare (Japanese), entusiasme (Danish), fremdeleshet (Norwegian), sisupe (Bemba), ñuque (Mapudungun) and mawir (Wolof). The list of synonyms is inexhaustible, as there are words in a variety of languages that are used to express boredom. Increasingly, a new wave of expressions has been developed to encompass the concept, such as enfocfocinarse (Spanish), grassierung (German), and walang pakialam (Tagalog).
Boredom, ennui, desgano, Langeweile, manque d’intérêt, ikare, entusiasme, fremdeleshet, sisupe, ñuque, mawir, enfocfocinarse, grassierung, walang pakialam
The English word bored functions as a verb, specifically an intransitive verb, and is defined as an emotionally uninterested state that results from the perception of having nothing to do or of being depressed. It is derived from the Old English word bōr, which translates as a dull or monotonous sound. Synonyms of bored include uninterested, disappointed, disinterested, and jaded. Antonyms include interested, pleased, and enthused. Cognates of bored include Dutch verveeld, German gelangweilt, and Spanish aburrido. Variants of bored include bores, boring, and boredom.
Etymology Morpheme Lexicology Semantics Syntax Linguistics
The English word ‘Bored’ originated in the late 16th century and first appeared in English literature in 1660. Since then, it has been used to express feelings of tedium, lack of stimulation or interest, and a general dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. The etymology of ‘Bored’ is derived from the English verb ‘to bore’, which comes from the Middle English borien, going further back to the Old English ‘beran’. In its earliest usage, the word expressed a mechanical act of drilling, of creating a hole through the use of an instrument. Over time, it began to be used in a metaphorical sense to mean ‘to make tedious’, and thus expressed a mental activity, as a lack of engagement, a dullness. In its morphology, ‘bored’ began as the past participle of ‘to bore’, but eventually began to be used as an adjective and noun, with the emergence of a specific meaning related to tedium and boredom. In its pragmatic use, it is used to express feelings of lack of interest, as a kind of protest, or even as a subtle form of manipulation to appease a perceived social duty.
etymology, morphology, English, bore, bored, tedium.
Bored is a commonly used expression in anime, comics and manga when trying to capture the emotions of the characters on the page. It is a feeling of apathy, ennui, and lack of interest. The expression is often represented as a character with a blank facial expression, often accompanied by slouched shoulders, arms crossed and eyes half-closed in a gesture of disaffection. The character may be shown looking away from the action, or simply ignoring what is happening around them.
Emotions, apathy, ennui, disaffection, indifference, disinterest.
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