as in boring
lacking in distinctive features or qualities
a plain vanilla version of a song that's been recorded more times than necessary
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Recent Examples of vanilla
The court has ruled that the companies must develop a new product formula that does not include vanilla derived from non-vanilla plant sources within 12 months of the settlement’s finalization, according to the news release.
—
Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 30 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for vanilla
Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 30 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for vanilla
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vanilla
Adjective
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The Salon Clutch Structured yet theatrical, Le Salon is Jacquemus’s answer to the evening clutch—pared back, but never boring.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
10 May 2025
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Even Jiro himself, originally thought the film would be boring, Gelb admitted.—
Kristin L. Wolfe,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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Jefferies backed into a more neutral rating on Rivian shares.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
14 May 2025
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Case in point: Hailey Bieber showed off a moody mani while attending the Fashion Trust U.S. Awards in Los Angeles, a significant change from her classic neutral glazed-donut nails.—
Fiona Embleton,
Glamour,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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The model opted for a short beige suede Loewe jacket over a plain white t-shirt, black straight leg jeans (the current denim silhouette du jour of the off-duty model), and black calf-hair ballet flats by The Row.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
4 May 2025
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More and more, travelers want a hotel that adds color, flavor, access, and excitement to a trip, instead of just offering a beige backdrop and a place to crash.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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The bottom line is that two Texas senators want taxpayers to spend at least $1 billion to remove the most historic Space Shuttle from the most historic spaceflight museum in the world, possibly break it in an across-the-country move, and then put it in a nondescript warehouse in Houston.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
16 Apr. 2025
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The novel begins in a restaurant in the financial district that’s laughably nondescript.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vanilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vanilla. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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