staid

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adjective

ˈstād

Synonyms of staid next

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

staidly adverb

staidness noun

staid

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of stay

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

This is a designer who spent decades challenging staid notions of good taste with showgirl bras and trompe-l’oeil torsos, and with whom Knwls has created a behemoth 40-piece collection, which gets its worldwide release this afternoon. —

Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2023 The overturning of Roe v. Wade last year upended the high court’s public reputation as a staid but deliberative body where nonpartisan judges confirmed to lifetime appointments by the Senate did their best to interpret the law with neither political interference nor personal corruption. —

Pablo Manríquez, The New Republic, 18 Sep. 2023 But more broadly, under Indian leader Narendra Modi, the typically staid diplomatic summit — a long-running meeting of the leaders of the top 19 world economies, plus the European Union — is likely to be a full pomp affair. —

Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023 Her shoes also featured a circular metallic heel, giving this staid red carpet ensemble a funky twist. —

Emily Kirkpatrick, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2023 Billions of dollars in cash are pouring into one of the most staid investments, the certificate of deposit, though many savers aren’t unlocking their full potential. —

Oyin Adedoyin, wsj.com, 24 Apr. 2023 Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, 62, is a staid four-star general, trained in Egypt and Jordan, who has commanded troops in Sudan’s grinding counterinsurgency campaigns in the south and west of the country. —

Declan Walsh, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2023 Part of the idea is to break common stereotypes about hockey players as staid men who follow orders and don’t pick up books. —

Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 6 Aug. 2023 Fine dining is in a state of flux: Tasting menus are out; food is more expensive; and diners are increasingly prioritizing fun experiences over staid standbys. —

Tori Latham, Robb Report, 4 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'staid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.