1
a
: smooth and soothing in manner or quality
bland approval
a bland smile
b
: exhibiting no personal concern or embarrassment : unperturbed
a bland confession of guilt
2
a
: not irritating, stimulating, or invigorating : soothing
a bland oil
the bland climate of the southern coast
b
: dull, insipid
bland stories with little plot or action
a bland rendition of the song
c
: lacking strong flavor
Expect both kinds of salsify to be subtle and delicate—too bland for some tastebuds.Elizabeth Schneider
blandly adverb
blandness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for bland

suave, urbane, diplomatic, bland, smooth, politic mean pleasantly tactful and well-mannered.

suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction.

a suave public relations coordinator

urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience.

an urbane traveler

diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully.

a diplomatic negotiator

bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities.

a bland master of ceremonies

smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity.

a smooth salesman

politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people.

a cunningly politic manager

Examples of bland in a Sentence

The vegetable soup was rather bland. The diplomat's bland statement did nothing to calm the situation.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Choose simple, bland foods that are easy to digest, such as bananas and toast. Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 20 Sep. 2025 The late 1900s saw a backlash to the bland, mass-market coffees of the previous decades. Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Sep. 2025 While the buzz about Borderlands 4 has been mostly positive (aside from serious PC performance issues reported early on), the game’s bland opening feels out of keeping with the franchise, offering a reminder that Borderlands has always been about more than just slick gameplay. G Kirilloff, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 The cinematic revolution, that is, in which bland Hollywood studio fare gave way to more personal and independent-minded movies, driven by talent and ideas. Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bland

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin blandus "influencing others by flattery, ingratiating, insidious, calm, gentle, agreeable to the senses, pleasant," of uncertain origin

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bland was in 1565

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bland. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

bland

adjective
1
: smooth and soothing in manner : gentle
a bland smile
2
a
: having soft and soothing qualities : not irritating
bland diet
b
: not interesting : dull
a bland story
blandly adverb
blandness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on bland

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