vanilla

adjective

Definition of vanillanext
as in boring
lacking in distinctive features or qualities a plain vanilla version of a song that's been recorded more times than necessary

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vanilla The court has ruled that the companies must develop a new product formula that does not include vanilla derived from non-vanilla plant sources within 12 months of the settlement’s finalization, according to the news release. — Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 30 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vanilla
  1. boring
  2. neutral
  3. beige
  4. nondescript
  5. featureless
Adjective
  • The boring rosters, the passive-aggressive press conferences, the endless parade of mediocre seasons — cresting and falling with an inexplicable 2021 and 2026 — has been brutal to watch.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The real world is always more boring than sci-fi, but solving this part of the puzzle will still be fascinating and not easy.
    — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • Similarly, Roderick Crooks has demonstrated that Ed Tech’s algorithmic systems are not race-neutral.
    — Kaliris Salas-Ramirez, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The Angle Wedge Pillow's distinctive triangular shape cradles your legs and knees at a precise 45-degree angle to relieve tension in your back, while the Knee-T keeps legs, hips and spine in a neutral position to reduce pressure on your lower back.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of neutral
Adjective
  • The interiors lean breezy and beige—more Greek island than typical Dalmatian stone—with white walls and light cream tones.
    — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 17 Aug. 2026
  • David opted for a similarly sunny and light look, wearing a butter yellow tee shirt and matching shorts, tan boat shoes, and a beige cap.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of beige
Adjective
  • In the corner of a nondescript office in Sheffield, a city in the north of England, a compact server full of Nvidia chips is whirring away.
    — Billy Perrigo, Time, 17 Aug. 2026
  • And in a bedroom, tucked behind the door and covered in dust, hung a nondescript print in a black and brown frame.
    — Cole Reynolds, Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of nondescript
Adjective
  • Last year, Hershey prevailed in a lawsuit that claimed Reese's featureless Halloween pumpkins were a consumer letdown.
    — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The largely featureless landscape is crucial because NASA technicians know exactly how much reflected light satellites’ optical instruments should see in the area.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of featureless

Browse Nearby Words

vanguards
vanilla
vanish
See all Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Vanilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vanilla. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on vanilla

Nglish: Translation of vanilla for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vanilla

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