1
as in boring
lacking in qualities that make for spirit and character
unlike their early work, the band's latest offering is banal and uninspiring
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cliche
used or heard so often as to be dull
please find new ways of phrasing your thoughts instead of relying on banal expressions
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of banal
Physical attraction was so much more banal by comparison.
—
Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2025
Without concrete data to support unconventional ideas, marketing executives often default to the path of least resistance: safe, banal, predictable campaigns.
—Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Indeed, the banal predictability of Kornyev’s slowly mounting humiliations and disillusionments is very much the point.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 14 May 2025
In one of the film’s most exquisite moments, Casey shows Jin, from the banal setting of her car, the building that sparked her aesthetic awakening; then her hand, holding a cigarette, traces the building’s outlines, as seen from her own ardently abstracting perspective.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for banal
Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2025
Without concrete data to support unconventional ideas, marketing executives often default to the path of least resistance: safe, banal, predictable campaigns.
—Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Indeed, the banal predictability of Kornyev’s slowly mounting humiliations and disillusionments is very much the point.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 14 May 2025
In one of the film’s most exquisite moments, Casey shows Jin, from the banal setting of her car, the building that sparked her aesthetic awakening; then her hand, holding a cigarette, traces the building’s outlines, as seen from her own ardently abstracting perspective.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for banal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for banal
Adjective
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Stick with boring investments to avoid big mistakes from get-rich-quick schemes.—
Jonathan I. Shenkman,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Hosting every summit in a big European city would alleviate much of the pressure to re-invent the wheel every time with respect to hotels, transit, and other boring but essential logistical details.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Without their voice in sales, clients can feel disconnected from the brand’s deeper purpose, messaging risks becoming bland or robotic and trust can erode if communication lacks emotion or nuance.—
Doaa K. Darwish,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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For anyone who feels healthful food is bland or boring, Santavicca encourages them to come and try their food.—
Pamela Brown,
Hartford Courant,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Several leaders described the pressure of being both highly visible and easily stereotyped.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
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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
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On the road, the Murano sidesteps the insipid CVT vibe of the past.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
17 Aug. 2025
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Callahan’s baritone is rich and full, but the rest of the instrumentation feels insipid.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
29 July 2025
Adjective
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The tired belief that Republicans are better at handling the economy simply isn’t true.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Nations like Ghana are tired of being the world’s dumping ground, although Agbofah is not naïve enough to want the containers to just stop arriving.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The shampoo won't clean as well and can leave behind residue that makes your hair look dull and lifeless.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Aug. 2025
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With major season getting over, August is dull, and McIlroy's absence has become a lightning rod for debates about player responsibility and the Tour's authority.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Construction on Zuckerberg’s mega-compound has reportedly spanned more than eight years, with residents of the area complaining that the streets are constantly filled with building equipment, and that loud noises and disruptive events have become commonplace.—
India Roby,
Architectural Digest,
12 Aug. 2025
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Baserunning blunders, bullpen blowups, errors, and failures to come through with clutch hits have all become commonplace.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Superman’s meh international returns can also be understood as reflective of the worldwide audience tiring of Hollywood’s cultural diktats.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
6 Aug. 2025
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With both sets of players tiring, the best chance of the 30-minute period would fall to substitute Salma Paralluelo, who could not divert Batlle’s cross towards goal from four yards out.—
Jamie Barton,
CNN Money,
27 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Banal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banal. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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