as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
the new city hall promises to be another drab pile of masonry for the town
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in prostitute
a woman who engages in sexual activities for money
in its time, this waterfront dive was decried as a den of iniquity, unfit even for the drunks and drabs who haunted it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 drab
Rebecca Chace
july 14, Literary Hub, 14 July 2025
Now’s an excellent time to find deep discounts on investment pieces like a stylish new sectional, an outdoor furniture set for your next BBQ, or something to spruce up your drab home office.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 3 July 2025
Justin Gest, Newsweek, 10 Feb. 2025
These varieties produce drab-looking but tasty fruiting bodies called truffles, which mammals like dogs or boars will find by smell—then dig up and eat.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drab
Adjective
There are red arrows drawn on photos of chain link fences and drab village streets, warning me not to go left at the soccer field, but bear right across the highway.
—Rebecca Chace
july 14, Literary Hub, 14 July 2025
Now’s an excellent time to find deep discounts on investment pieces like a stylish new sectional, an outdoor furniture set for your next BBQ, or something to spruce up your drab home office.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 3 July 2025
Noun
And if they're not returned – all of them, not in drips and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two – by Saturday at 12 o'clock.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 10 Feb. 2025
These varieties produce drab-looking but tasty fruiting bodies called truffles, which mammals like dogs or boars will find by smell—then dig up and eat.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drab
Adjective
-
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
Noun
-
At some point, Perkins reportedly introduced Millard to a Black prostitute but Millard wanted a White one instead, the news report said, citing warrants.—
Louis Casiano,
Fox News,
24 Mar. 2023
-
Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, named after Shields’s controversial first film about a young girl who was a child prostitute, features interviews from her childhood friend and actress Laura Linney and Drew Barrymore and how to contrasted with Shields’s experience in the spotlight.—
Vulture,
Vulture,
22 Mar. 2023
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
Fulton had played a hooker in Girl of the Night (1960), starring Anne Francis, when someone from As the World Turns called her manager looking to see if one of his clients, East of Eden actress Lois Smith, was available to play Lisa.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
-
Strip clubs, booze, hookers, blow, the whole nine yards.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Adjective
-
Spectacular scenery certainly helps, as the story traverses from dusty Andean plains to harrowing mountain roads to capital city La Paz.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
3 Aug. 2025
-
Axel Hunnicutt stood by the side of a dusty dirt road in California’s high country rangeland and howled like a wolf.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Three organic meats are on offer for Sunday roast: slow roasted Black Angus, with creamed horseradish; succulent Tamworth Pork with bramley apple sauce and Texel Lamb with a classic mint sauce.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Burrow hopes that feeling the rush and gaining real reps working the pocket will help lessen the impact of opening-week clunkers that contributed to the team’s slow starts.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Many senior party and military leaders, weary after years of a punishing civil war, were reluctant to go up against the strongest force in the world.—
M. Taylor Fravel,
Foreign Affairs,
18 July 2025
-
There’s no rest for the weary — or in this case, the Florida Panthers.—
Kaitlyn Pohly,
Miami Herald,
16 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drab. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share