Prosaic
hardNegative toneproh-ZAY-ik
adjective
Definition
Lacking poetic beauty; commonplace or dull
Memory hook
PROS-AIC: Written in plain PROSE, not poetry -- dull, unimaginative, and ordinary.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“After the excitement of travel, daily routine felt prosaic.”
“His prosaic writing style lacked creativity and flair.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“After the excitement of travel, daily routine felt ______.”
Show answer
prosaic
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Prosaic is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "mundane" or "pedestrian" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "imaginative".
Related GRE Words
pedestrian
Lacking inspiration or excitement; dull
banal
So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring
insipid
Lacking flavor, zest, or interest; dull and unengaging
trite
Lacking originality or freshness; overused and no longer interesting
hackneyed
Lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite
quotidian
Of or occurring every day; ordinary or everyday
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