BANAL Synonyms: 144 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'banal' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of banal are flat , inane , insipid , jejune , and vapid . While all these words mean "devoid of qualities that make for spirit and character," banal stresses the complete absence of freshness, novelty, or immediacy. // a banal tale of unrequited love

Q: When might 'flat' be a better fit than 'banal'?

The synonyms flat and banal are sometimes interchangeable, but flat applies to things that have lost their sparkle or zest. // although well-regarded in its day, the novel now seems flat

Q: In what contexts can 'inane' take the place of 'banal'?

Although the words inane and banal have much in common, inane implies a lack of any significant or convincing quality. // an inane interpretation of the play

Q: When is 'insipid' a more appropriate choice than 'banal'?

While in some cases nearly identical to banal , insipid implies a lack of sufficient taste or savor to please or interest. // an insipid romance with platitudes on every page

Q: When is it sensible to use 'jejune' instead of 'banal'?

While the synonyms jejune and banal are close in meaning, jejune suggests a lack of rewarding or satisfying substance. // a jejune and gassy speech

Q: When would 'vapid' be a good substitute for 'banal'?

The words vapid and banal can be used in similar contexts, but vapid suggests a lack of liveliness, force, or spirit. // an exciting story given a vapid treatment

banal

adjective

bə-ˈnal

Definition of banal

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stereotyped

used or heard so often as to be dull please find new ways of phrasing your thoughts instead of relying on banal expressions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word banal distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of banal are flat, inane, insipid, jejune, and vapid. While all these words mean "devoid of qualities that make for spirit and character," banal stresses the complete absence of freshness, novelty, or immediacy.

a banal tale of unrequited love

When might flat be a better fit than banal?

The synonyms flat and banal are sometimes interchangeable, but flat applies to things that have lost their sparkle or zest.

although well-regarded in its day, the novel now seems flat

In what contexts can inane take the place of banal?

Although the words inane and banal have much in common, inane implies a lack of any significant or convincing quality.

an inane interpretation of the play

When is insipid a more appropriate choice than banal?

While in some cases nearly identical to banal, insipid implies a lack of sufficient taste or savor to please or interest.

an insipid romance with platitudes on every page

When is it sensible to use jejune instead of banal?

While the synonyms jejune and banal are close in meaning, jejune suggests a lack of rewarding or satisfying substance.

a jejune and gassy speech

When would vapid be a good substitute for banal?

The words vapid and banal can be used in similar contexts, but vapid suggests a lack of liveliness, force, or spirit.

an exciting story given a vapid treatment

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 banal Apparently the weather is just too banal. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 12 June 2026 All game was fair game, and eating wild things was both luxurious and banal—throughout the country the consumption of wild animals was entirely typical. — Literary Hub, 10 June 2026 Yet despite their cultural staying power, power ballads have historically received little scholarly attention, in part because they are often dismissed as schlocky and banal. — Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 22 May 2026 This season, they’re being shown turning to OnlyFans to do the banal, but crucial, thing of putting money in their pockets. — Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for banal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for banal

Adjective

The couple just stole $10 million — a theft consequential enough to set the entire story in motion, yet also too boring to depict outside a brief flashback?

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 July 2026
The boring games are usually like watching paint dry and their very dedicated fans are only there for the massive parties.

— Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026

Definition of boring

Adjective

Despite their outer appearances and oftentimes stereotyped personalities, the ladies embrace each other’s depths and contradictions.

— Meagan Jordan, VIBE.com, 10 July 2026
This is a directed, stereotyped behavior in which the highest-resolution region of the somatosensory surface is brought to bear on the object requiring the most detailed analysis.

— Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026

Definition of stereotyped

Adjective

Outside of the Timbo tracks, though, Jay sometimes goes autopilot on bland synth-heavy beats by Swizz Beatz, DJ Clue, and Duro.

— Al Shipley, SPIN, 14 July 2026
Emma’s resistance to the bland wholesomeness of recovery spaces speaks to a familiar cultural trope across media, in films and television shows; that sobriety is where flamboyance goes to die.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026

Definition of bland

Adjective

The brand is winning over tired consumers who already reach for something sweet before bed by combining the comfort of a late-night treat with ingredients designed to support a better sleep routine.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 17, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 July 2026
Some get the number of dollars tied to their age (this used to be the case for Ollie and his brother, Owen, until their mom, Rebecca, got tired of them fighting over their disparate payouts) and others much more.

— Erika Janes, Curbed, 17 July 2026

Definition of tired

Adjective

Mitchell, whose gritty century in the recent third test against England secured a series victory, top-scored with 65 in an insipid New Zealand batting effort.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
That’s how long Thomas Tuchel’s team waited to produce a lifeless and insipid performance against Ghana that prompted many to re-evaluate the Three Lions’ chances of winning the whole thing this summer.

— Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 26 June 2026

Definition of insipid

Adjective

In Crimea, where Ukrainian strikes on supply routes and infrastructure have become commonplace, gasoline is especially scarce, and power outages are routine.

— Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 15 July 2026
Technology has now reached the stage where small-scale, portable X-ray devices are commonplace on Earth.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 14 July 2026

Definition of commonplace

Adjective

Maybe so, but think of how badly Congress had stated those hackneyed ideas.

— Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
While not exactly a feminist screed, the script grants nary a free pass to the glut of hackneyed gender conventions in the golden-age canon without at least cracking a joke.

— Naveen Kumar, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026

Definition of hackneyed

Browse Nearby Words

ban

banal

banalities

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Banal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banal. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of banal

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on banal

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

raffish

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes