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
-
While infants and toddlers between the ages of 0 to 2 years are more likely to experience a stuffy nose, cough, poor appetite, fussiness, and sleep problems, children between the ages of 3 to 5 years mainly complain of sleepiness, feeling tired during daytime, low energy and dry cough.—
Anuradha Varanasi,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
-
Family members said Jacobs had talked about feeling tired, but not about wanting to take his own life.—
Ames Alexander,
Charlotte Observer,
30 May 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
-
Santa Monica residents go to war against Waymo There’s a battle brewing in Santa Monica with a fleet of unmanned, electric Waymo vehicles on one side, and exhausted, weary locals on the other.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2025
-
Reed thin and blonde, with the slouch of a weary royal, Kjær spent Tuesday afternoon directing his troops: five amateur dancers, recruited from clubs, who will perform at an opening on Saturday in a piece modeled on the firework displays at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
Despite the retirement of highly successful Atlas and Delta launch vehicles, the transition to Vulcan has been slow and continues to impact the completion of Space Force mission objectives.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2025
-
Still, even if the growth is slower than in some North American leagues, European teams continue to appreciate.—
Justin Teitelbaum,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stale. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
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