as in soothing
not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect
bland food that was good for babies and invalids
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bland
DeVille traces the knockoff effect that happened over time, like when the unpredictable pop experimentalists of MGMT were succeeded—and commercially eclipsed—by bands with blander takes on their ideas (Capital Cities, Foster the People, Empire of the Sun).
—
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2025
The new labels bring a fresh spin on tennis attire that had gone bland following the retirements of icons Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, and Serena Williams.
—Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The training camp in Kazan was no picnic, living in spartan dorm rooms, eating bland food, no one speaking English, grinding away in the gym all day.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Unfortunately, that means dining can sometimes be bland at best.
—Edwina Clark, SELF, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bland
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2025
The new labels bring a fresh spin on tennis attire that had gone bland following the retirements of icons Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, and Serena Williams.
—Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The training camp in Kazan was no picnic, living in spartan dorm rooms, eating bland food, no one speaking English, grinding away in the gym all day.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Unfortunately, that means dining can sometimes be bland at best.
—Edwina Clark, SELF, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bland
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bland
Adjective
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They’re placed on or next to the body and struck with a mallet to release a calming vibration and mellifluous tone that eases muscles, sparking an immediately soothing effect on the nervous system and improving synaptic responses in the brain.—
Terry Elward,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Whatever the manifestation—hair-tucking, shorts-pulling, ball-bouncing, bobbing, pocket-checking, or something else entirely—the familiarity of these motions can have a soothing effect, calming the player’s nerves before a big shot.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Make sure to choose the cool water setting and a low-spin or gentle wash cycle, and add in gentle laundry detergent according to the load size on your machine.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
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More serious collectors may prefer waddling to the local Cars & Coffee with an earlier VW, recalling a kinder, gentler, and far slower-paced time than our present age.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Athletique There is something edgy yet soft about a funnel-neck in a technical fabric—lean in and pair a wind- and water-resistant shell with trousers and sneakers for a touch of sport, or style it with a pencil skirt and kitten heels for a more feminine feel.—
Andrea Zendejas,
Vogue,
16 Sep. 2025
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Swift wore Elson 4, the brand’s best-selling blue-red, but the bullet-proof formula comes in 12 beautiful hues ranging from a soft beige peach (Nude Cabaret) to a deep bronzed rose (Flesh 3).—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Get the recipe > The mellow sweetness of summer corn and lobster meat harmonize beautifully in this ultimate summer soup.—
SAVEUR Editors,
Saveur,
4 Sep. 2025
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Casting the sweet-faced and unflappably mellow Dano — Eli Sunday his Vadim Baranov is not — as Putin’s kingmaker also assures that Assayas isn’t keen on high drama, with conversations in conference rooms plotting totalitarian takeover rarely rising above library-voice level.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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LaViola agrees, adding that the mild climate and general friendly atmosphere of the Raleigh-Durham area are also desirable factors.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Sep. 2025
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This can pick up some milder forms of cognitive impairment but again is not a fully, extensive assessment.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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While some Hamas apologists have portrayed the word as benign, its real meaning is undeniably violent — and not just for Israelis.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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Given the slight shift toward caution that took hold among investors during its benign August-September consolidation, broad positioning seems well short of aggressive extremes.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bland.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bland. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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