Definition of STAID

Choose the Right Synonym for staid

Adjective

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 And there’s more, Nine songs in a breathless, whip-sawing, confetti-bombing magical history tour that had at least one of the normally staid Ordway ushers popping and locking at the curtain call. — Dominic P. Papatola, Twin Cities, "Theater review: “SIX” is history and music served up with good humor and plenty of sass," 4 Dec. 2019 In a game as staid as baseball can be, Cash has to get players to accept unusual moves like this and all the matchups he is forced to play because a $53 million payroll forces the Rays to employ a lot of versatile young players. — Henry Schulman, SFChronicle.com, "A’s Bob Melvin must be on guard for Rays manager Kevin Cash’s wacky strategies," 2 Oct. 2019 Political is personal This was no staid, bureaucratic tale told by a distant and removed narrator. — BostonGlobe.com, "Political is personal," 16 Nov. 2019 The last thing Americans would expect from Disney was a critique of patriarchy, but sure enough, Ashman’s The Little Mermaid is a gutsy film about gender and identity—a far cry from the staid Disney catalog. — Michael Landis, Smithsonian, "‘The Little Mermaid’ Was Way More Subversive Than You Realized," 5 Nov. 2019 Deeply serious issues weren't just the stuff of sober biopics and staid period pieces but of uproarious comedy. — Ann Hornaday, Houston Chronicle, "Movies grapple with a thorny present by revisiting the past at the Toronto International Film Fest," 16 Sep. 2019 Once pretty staid affairs, NATO gatherings nowadays are infused with melodrama and cliffhanging uncertainty about global challenges and the willingness of the United States to aid its allies. — BostonGlobe.com, "Pompeo sought to soothe the worries during a visit to Germany early this month, extolling NATO as ‘‘one of the most critical, strategic partnerships in all of recorded history.’’," 21 Nov. 2019 What was once a staid, relaxed brunch culture dominated by big-scale buffets, traditional menus and families has transformed into a highly informal meal-service period dominated by young singles, varied menus and bottomless mimosas. — Chicago Tribune Staff, chicagotribune.com, "Daywatch: Museum of Science and Industry gets new name, gunman convicted in gang revenge slaying and other things to know about to start your day," 4 Oct. 2019 Even in such a fairly staid city as Beverly Hills, the nightly smell of pot from neighboring homes and along sidewalks can regularly be detected alongside the jasmine blossom. — Edvard Pettersson, chicagotribune.com, "This is how you sell pot paraphernalia to rich people," 6 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'staid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.