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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 Couldn’t think of something more boring and banal and a waste of time. Todd Spangler, Variety, 14 Sep. 2025 In this scenario, the Kremlin could meet a moment where its resistance to the banal inconveniences of reality, and the economic hardship of its own people, turns toxic. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025 The actions had all been engineered to seem so gradual, Evie thought, even banal. Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025 The very principle of financialization rules even the most mundane exchange of objects in the same manner that the most banal exchange of economic investment and speculation regulates the sign of spiritual autonomy and utopian aspirations that abstraction had initially promised. Benjamin H. D. Buchloh, Artforum, 1 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for banal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for banal
Adjective
  • Anyone who suggests Guardiola’s title-winning Manchester City teams were boring should be forced to watch 90 minutes of Mourinho’s Chelsea versus Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool in the mid-2000s and report back.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The details might be boring, but the gathering of money—searching gem dealers, gold dealers—was a full-time job.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Much like how Hailey and Justin Bieber dress, there is something charming about opposing couple style, and allowing each other to follow their individual tastes and passions, without blending into one bland unit.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Jiang and his colleagues complain over video chat about their bland meals, but the people who produce, prepare and deliver the food remain invisible.
    Yangyang Cheng, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Several leaders described the pressure of being both highly visible and easily stereotyped.
    Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • At the time, Latinos were often cast in stereotyped roles with heavy accents and largely denied the opportunity to direct features.
    Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • On the road, the Murano sidesteps the insipid CVT vibe of the past.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2025
  • Callahan’s baritone is rich and full, but the rest of the instrumentation feels insipid.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 29 July 2025
Adjective
  • If tired, float or tread water until out of the rip current.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2025
  • If the Jays can take advantage of a tired Seattle squad in the first two games of this contest, their grip on the series could be hard to overcome.
    The Athletic MLB Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Reeves delivers on all phases of his character arc, making a potentially dull and earnest character soar.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The text is excitable and wayward, while many of the photographs are dramatically dull.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Casualties among Gaza’s police force during the two-year conflict have contributed to a deterioration in security, with looting of aid becoming commonplace.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
  • The council’s press releases would become commonplace following that, leading campaigns to elevate complaints about everything from ER to CSI to Big Brother and the Emmy Awards.
    Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • With the departure of disgraced co-creator Justin Roiland after the third season, the show has been steadily improving in quality, with a tremendous cast and some very funny done-in-one episodes that don't have the sometimes tiring cynicism of R&M.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 2025
  • However, some Republicans have spoken out against her and recently reported that some administration officials are tiring of her, suggesting her influence is not unbridled.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Banal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banal. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on banal

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