prosaic — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Pertaining to or having the characteristics of prose.

   Antonyms

   poetic

   Examples

   The tenor of Eliot's prosaic work differs greatly from that of his poetry.

2. Straightforward; matter-of-fact; lacking the feeling or elegance of poetry.

   Usage

   • of writing or speaking

   Examples

   I was simply making the prosaic point that we are running late.

3. Overly plain, simple or commonplace, to the point of being boring.

   Usage

   • usually
   • of writing or speaking but also figurative

   Synonyms

   humdrumdullunimaginative

   Antonyms

   turgidbombasticflowery

   Examples

   His account of the incident was so prosaic that I nodded off while reading it.

   She lived a prosaic life.

   More examples (3)

   Our people are the most prosaic in the world, but the most faithful; and with curious reverence we keep up and transmit, from generation to generation, the superstition of what we call the education of a gentleman.

   Their steepness and abruptness were even greater than I had imagined from hearsay, and suggested nothing in common with the prosaic objective world we know.

   Ultimately, though, the more prosaic goals carried the greater significance in this contest. Madrid have managed only one clean sheet on their way to winning this competition.

Adjective

1. not fanciful or imaginative

   Synonyms

   matter-of-fact

   Examples

   local guides describe the history of various places in matter-of-fact tones

   a prosaic and unimaginative essay

2. lacking wit or imagination

   Synonyms

   pedestrianprosyearthbound

   Examples

   a pedestrian movie plot

3. not challenging; dull and lacking excitement

   Synonyms

   commonplacehumdrumunglamorousunglamourous

   Examples

   an unglamorous job greasing engines