stale

adjective

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\ ˈstāl

staler; stalest

Definition of stale

(Entry 1 of 4)

1 : tasteless or unpalatable from age stale bread

2 : tedious from familiarity a stale routine

3 : impaired in legal force or effect by reason of being allowed to rest without timely use, action, or demand a stale affidavit a stale debt

4 : impaired in vigor or effectiveness

stale

verb (1)

staled; staling

Definition of stale (Entry 2 of 4)

transitive verb

1 : to make stale

2 archaic : to make common : cheapen

intransitive verb

: to become stale

stale

verb (2)

staled; staling

Definition of stale (Entry 3 of 4)

intransitive verb

: urinate —used chiefly of camels and horses

stale

noun

Definition of stale (Entry 4 of 4)

: urine of a domestic animal (such as a horse)

Other Words from stale Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing stale Learn More About stale

Examples of stale in a Sentence

Adjective a room filled with stale smoke viewers were bored by the stale story lines of the new crop of sitcoms

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Presumably these batches would get both dry and stale. — J. Kenji López-alt, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Mar. 2022 If origin stories and familiar adventures in the Marvel Universe have started to feel a bit stale, stick around just a bit longer. — Evan Romano, Men's Health, 3 May 2022 For years, the humble style has felt as stale as the old cigarettes-and-beer scent of a dusty bowling alley, evoking at best the cast of The Big Lebowski and, at worst, Charlie Sheen in Two and a Half Men. — Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2022 By putting all its energy into an incident that felt edgy and shocking nearly a week ago, the show just felt stale. — Amanda Wicks, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2022 Alabama’s roster is likely to look different next season, which could be a welcome change for a group that underachieved and messaging that seemed to grow stale by this season’s end. — Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, 19 Mar. 2022 By the thick of winter, the novelty fades— once-thrilling warm layers become a necessity, and getting dressed in the morning can feel stale. — Rachel Besser, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2022 In recent years, though, gamers said the title has grown stale. — New York Times, 29 Dec. 2021 When tech gets stale, one thing the industry does to try to get shoppers excited about new products is offer bigger and better specs. — Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Blinkie’s Donut Emporium, owned by a Cambodian American father-daughter duo, offers handmade donuts daily, always closing at noon so their selection never stales. — Theo Stroomer, National Geographic, 5 June 2019 The product has staled compared to the previous standards. — Mac Engel, star-telegram, 27 Jan. 2018 Set collection is a particularly satisfying mechanism but one that stales easily; Fabled Fruit tweaks the formula in every game to bypass that problem. — Nate Anderson, Ars Technica, 24 Nov. 2017 Petty theft, Clifton Boulevard: Police were called to CVS Pharmacy about 2 a.m. Oct. 12 on a report of a man staling body wash items and leaving in a car. — Bruce Geiselman, cleveland.com, 22 Oct. 2017 While the bread is staling, combine blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, sugar and lemon juice in a large saucepan over low heat. — Robin Mather, Detroit Free Press, 8 July 2017 Time may have withered her, to misquote Shakespeare, but custom will never stale this mother’s infinite, and exasperating, variety. — Ben Brantley, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2016 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Blinkie’s Donut Emporium, owned by a Cambodian American father-daughter duo, offers handmade donuts daily, always closing at noon so their selection never stales. — Theo Stroomer, National Geographic, 5 June 2019 The product has staled compared to the previous standards. — Mac Engel, star-telegram, 27 Jan. 2018 Set collection is a particularly satisfying mechanism but one that stales easily; Fabled Fruit tweaks the formula in every game to bypass that problem. — Nate Anderson, Ars Technica, 24 Nov. 2017 Petty theft, Clifton Boulevard: Police were called to CVS Pharmacy about 2 a.m. Oct. 12 on a report of a man staling body wash items and leaving in a car. — Bruce Geiselman, cleveland.com, 22 Oct. 2017 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun That would be almond croissants, in which a nut paste is spread and baked into stale or day-old pastries. — Washington Post, 20 Dec. 2021 Danielle escapes to the buffet to finger stale-looking pastries, sandwiches filled with mayonnaise-y salads, gloopy pasta. — Jocelyn Silver, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2021 The first bite crunched into the burger’s onion rings and thick pretzel bun, which was a cut above Wendy’s usual signature, stale-to-the-touch buns. — Phillip Valys, sun-sentinel.com, 10 Nov. 2020 As the supply of equities shrinks, developed nations from the U.S. to Japan are turning stale. — Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2019 Did McCarthy’s offense get stale in Green Bay at the end? — Dallas News, 14 Jan. 2020 This manner of breaking down the fourth wall feels stale from the start. — New York Times, 14 Nov. 2019 And though the future looks bright, even that trope feels stale. — Ann Killion, SFChronicle.com, 3 Oct. 2019 The subject is a topical one, but the approach feels stale. — Anne Cohen, refinery29.com, 7 June 2019 See More

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

First Known Use of stale

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1599, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1548, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for stale

Adjective

Middle English, settled, clear (of ale), not fresh, from Anglo-French estale, probably from Middle Dutch stel old (of beer)

Verb (2)

Middle English; akin to Middle Low German stallen to urinate, stal urine of horses

Learn More About stale

Dictionary Entries Near stale

stalagmometry

stale

stalemate

Statistics for stale

Last Updated

18 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Stale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stale. Accessed 28 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for stale

stale

adjective

\ ˈstāl

staler; stalest

Kids Definition of stale

1 : having lost a good taste or quality through age stale bread

2 : used or heard so often as to be dull stale jokes

3 : not so strong, energetic, or effective as before He felt stale in his job.

stale

adjective

Legal Definition of stale

: impaired in legal effect or force by reason of not being used, acted upon, or demanded in a timely fashion a search warrant based on stale information a stale claim