Doldrums
The doldrums are a flat, stuck, going-nowhere state — of a mood, a ship, or a belt of ocean near the equator.
Full definition of Doldrums →:: COMPARE ::
DoldrumsvsEnnui
The short answer
Ennui is boredom with a philosophy attached — a French word carrying a whole literature about meaninglessness. Doldrums is boredom with no wind: flatter, less articulate, and considerably more nautical by accident.
Side by side
| Aspect | Doldrums | Ennui |
|---|---|---|
| Register | Colloquial | Literary |
| Implies | No movement | No meaning |
| Origin | English slang | French |
| Has a location | Acquired one | No |
What each one means
Ennui
A weary, listless flatness — not 'nothing to do' but 'nothing worth doing'. The state of finding existence itself faintly tiresome.
Full definition of Ennui →