Standard Lemma guide

woodenness

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The state of being wooden (often in a figurative sense).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the quality of being wooden and awkward

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he criticized the woodenness of the acting
  • there was a certain woodenness in his replies

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: awkwardness, clumsiness, gracelessness, stiffness

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English wooden Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English woodenness From wooden + -ness.