1
2

Synonym Chooser

How is the word staid different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of staid are earnest, grave, sedate, serious, sober, and solemn. While all these words mean "not light or frivolous," staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint.

a quiet and staid community

Where would earnest be a reasonable alternative to staid?

While the synonyms earnest and staid are close in meaning, earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

an earnest reformer

When can grave be used instead of staid?

While in some cases nearly identical to staid, grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude.

read the proclamation in a grave voice

When is sedate a more appropriate choice than staid?

The meanings of sedate and staid largely overlap; however, sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness.

remained sedate amid the commotion

In what contexts can serious take the place of staid?

The words serious and staid can be used in similar contexts, but serious implies a concern for what really matters.

a serious play about social injustice

When could sober be used to replace staid?

In some situations, the words sober and staid are roughly equivalent. However, sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity.

a sober look at the state of our schools

When would solemn be a good substitute for staid?

The words solemn and staid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.

a sad and solemn occasion

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of staid Otto and Elise are so alive on the page, and noting how this staid couple who enjoyed their dull routines come alive with their small acts of resistance is breathtaking. Rabih Alameddine september 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025 There is a swirl of vibrant Louis Vuitton bags, which Jacobs enlisted the artist Takashi Murakami to create, replacing the line’s staid signature brown background and gold logo with color and infusing the design with a youthful energy. Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025 This is not your stuffy and staid luxury hotel; the clientele at the Villa Magna was noticeably stylish, sophisticated, and attractive. Erica Wertheim Zohar, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025 Japanese politics have long been staid. Jeff Kingston, Time, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for staid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staid
Adjective
  • The lighthearted juxtaposition of Vessel’s stage presence with the moody and solemn nature of Sleep Token’s music served as a good reminder that, even apart from all the lore, this is just a really solid rock band with songs that pack a heavy punch when performed live.
    Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 23 Sep. 2025
  • The archetype is, of course, familiar—but Hawke imbues each of these characters with infectious zeal and a solemn, even sacred, severity.
    Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • At the heart of the property is the tahona, used to grind the agave used to make mezcal; this one is solar-powered though no less imposing.
    Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Drafted in the second round, 50th overall, last year out of TCU, the physically imposing, 6-foot-6, 250-pound lefty debuted at the Single-A level in April.
    Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Serving warrants requires officers to arrest a person suspected of committing a serious crime or secure crucial evidence, both situations that up the chances that a dangerous suspect might be lying in wait.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
  • This lightwear pair at Amazon is on sale for $12—a serious deal considering they’re polarized to ensure UV protection, feature a coating that helps protect against water on rainy days, and have a one-piece nosepad that fits snugly on your face without digging in like some of the metal varieties.
    Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The event features a 155-foot-long table adorned with 139 candles and meticulously set with 1,452 pieces of cutlery for 160 distinguished guests, NBC News reported.
    Amanda Castro Hannah Parry Shane Croucher Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Set in Columbus, Indiana, a city known for its unusual concentration of distinguished modern architecture, it’s centered on Casey, a teen-age girl with a difficult family background whose aesthetic passion has been awakened by the city’s masterworks.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • From one side, draped in a dark-blue robe and flanked by an entourage in matching work shirts, Joe Frazier walked slowly through the crowd, stern and granite-jawed.
    Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Not even the most stern calls to sit down could keep the crowds away, as production staff tried to pave a path for fellow front row faces like rapper Glorilla, Charles Melton, Celtics player Jayson Tatum — who was sidelined late last season with an injury — Elle Fanning, and more.
    Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The venture works with waste picker entrepreneurs in India to provide dignified work within the circular value chain.
    Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Ten years ago, women dressed well and looked dignified.
    Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The hearings are usually decorous affairs, where anger is routine but controlled.
    David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Still, Julie Rotblatt Amrany got the flying ponytail right and delivered a decorous portrayal that was well received.
    Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • In The Pink Panther, Cardinale starred as the wealthy Princess Dala, whose priceless diamond becomes the target of an aristocratic jewel thief played by David Niven.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Beyond that, people found the Mitfords’ very, very aristocratic accent extremely annoying.
    Mimi Pond, People.com, 14 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Staid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staid. Accessed 26 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on staid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!