1
as in cliche
used or heard so often as to be dull
viewers were bored by the stale story lines of the new crop of sitcoms
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
the sequel is basically a stale remake of the first movie
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stale
From dust and hair to greasy buildup and the occasional stain, fabric headboards can be a sneaky source of stale smells and dinginess.
—
Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 May 2025
But the franchise has been languishing, and part of the reason (alongside corporate venality and the prioritization of brand continuation over individual works) is that its shtick has grown stale.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 May 2025
Usually, listening to someone repeat themselves and hurt for original banter quickly grows stale.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
One source close to Trump World said digs at Biden over his aging were getting stale even before the diagnosis.
—Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stale
Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 May 2025
But the franchise has been languishing, and part of the reason (alongside corporate venality and the prioritization of brand continuation over individual works) is that its shtick has grown stale.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 May 2025
Usually, listening to someone repeat themselves and hurt for original banter quickly grows stale.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
One source close to Trump World said digs at Biden over his aging were getting stale even before the diagnosis.
—Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stale
Adjective
-
Some people assume that longtime married couples are boring, but my husband has never bored me.—
Seija Rankin,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2025
-
Spectators perceive tennis outfits as plain, boring, rigid or limited to a specific silhouette.—
Ruth Etiesit Samuel,
Essence,
2 June 2025
Adjective
-
Several leaders described the pressure of being both highly visible and easily stereotyped.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
-
Their negative stereotyped reputation seems to follow them like ageism follows older employees or sexism follows female employees.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
International students make up about 27% of the student body at the nation’s oldest and wealthiest university.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
5 June 2025
-
Former New College student Katie Helms, 47, got emotional when remembering her old mentor.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
25 May 2025
Adjective
-
The Panthers survived an Aleksander Barkov delay of game penalty and McDavid slaloming through tired penalty killers only to be turned away by Bobrovsky’s stomach snow angel.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
-
My therapist buffs and moisturizes my tired skin with nutrient-rich seaweed body polish and a firming mask before laying shiver-inducing strands of detoxifying fresh seaweed across my back.—
Katie Nanton,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
These guys have been touring for decades, never tiring of playing the hits even while steadily putting out albums full of new material.—
Emily Palmer Heller,
Vulture,
2 June 2025
-
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle sustains this tiring play style by deploying a 10-man rotation, allowing his players to stay fresh throughout high-intensity games.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
This hackneyed stance has turned his concert performances shrill and hollow.—
Armond White,
National Review,
28 May 2025
-
Yet these hackneyed qualities are minor aspects of a production that otherwise can be eye-opening and newly invigorating.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Today, Knight sounds less like a rap-world villain and more like a weary prophet, but still fierce in conviction.—
Danielle Bacher,
People.com,
13 June 2025
-
The squad then start the session with a passing drill where the coaches shout and clap constantly, inspiring energy to any weary limbs.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
Strain into a highball glass, while simultaneously adding the club soda together in one slow stream to achieve the fluffy, towering fizz.—
Jillian Dara,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
And while the Canadian industry made early gains to close a gender gap in the film and TV industry, making strides in advancing and promoting talent from underrepresented Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities has been slower and more incremental.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
9 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stale. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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