staid

1 of 2

adjective

ˈstād 

: marked by settled sedateness and often prim self-restraint : sober, grave

a staid and serious business executive

a staid demeanor/manner

staidly adverb

staidness noun

staid

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of stay

Synonyms of staid

Adjective

• solemn
• serious
• stern

Choose the Right Synonym for staid

serious, grave, solemn, sedate, staid, sober, earnest mean not light or frivolous.

serious implies a concern for what really matters.

a serious play about social injustice

grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude.

read the proclamation in a grave voice

solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.

a sad and solemn occasion

sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness.

remained sedate amid the commotion

staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint.

a quiet and staid community

sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity.

a sober look at the state of our schools

earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

an earnest reformer

Examples of staid in a Sentence

Adjective

a staid and solemn businessman

everyone was surprised by the racy joke from the usually staid professor

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

As opposed to grander, more institutional museums which can feel staid or imposing, the staff here are all warm and welcoming. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026

Faced with a foreign infestation, the staid official from your local department of natural resources finally has occasion to vent a little spleen. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

The situation has left nerves raw at the Capitol, with the typically staid Thune showing signs of frustration. — Philip Elliott, Time, 29 July 2026

In the stadium, the individual performances felt underwhelming, and the mood in the crowd was relatively staid. — Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 19 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of stay entry 3

First Known Use

Adjective

1557, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for staid

• aid
• aide
• bade
• blade
• braid
• clade
• dade
• fade
• flayed
• fraid
• frayed
• gade

Kids Definition

staid

1 of 2 adjective

ˈstād 

1

: not easily changed : settled, fixed

a staid opinion

2

a

: calm and serious in manner, attitude, or style

b

: not bold, bright, or showy

staid colors

staidly adverb

staidness noun

staid

2 of 2

past and past participle of stay