Synonym Chooser

How is the word insipid distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of insipid are banal, flat, inane, jejune, and vapid. While all these words mean "devoid of qualities that make for spirit and character," insipid implies a lack of sufficient taste or savor to please or interest.

an insipid romance with platitudes on every page

When is banal a more appropriate choice than insipid?

In some situations, the words banal and insipid are roughly equivalent. However, banal stresses the complete absence of freshness, novelty, or immediacy.

a banal tale of unrequited love

When might flat be a better fit than insipid?

The words flat and insipid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 insipid?

The meanings of inane and insipid largely overlap; however, inane implies a lack of any significant or convincing quality.

an inane interpretation of the play

Where would jejune be a reasonable alternative to insipid?

Although the words jejune and insipid have much in common, jejune suggests a lack of rewarding or satisfying substance.

a jejune and gassy speech

When can vapid be used instead of insipid?

The words vapid and insipid 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 insipid Bored of an increasingly insipid Premier League season? Nick Miller, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025 The framing, blocking, and overall visual grammar have a condescending air, as if directors have surrendered to some insipid idea of who their audience is. Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025 Please more of this insipid propaganda. Matt Slater, The Athletic, 14 Dec. 2024 Bored of an increasingly insipid Premier League season? Nick Miller, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for insipid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insipid
Adjective
  • Listen to one after another, though, and the bland muddiness exposes them as a machine creation.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 June 2025
  • Recent coverage on Forbes warns that overuse of AI in newsrooms could lead to bland, unoriginal content that erodes trust.
    Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • This is worlds away from that boring deli chicken sandwich, while still being easy enough to whip up on the busiest of days.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 28 June 2025
  • The contract’s scope of work includes the single bore tunnel, station entrances and exits, the excavation of underground stations and the procurement of a tunnel boring machine.
    Grace Hase, Mercury News, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2025
  • When done correctly, gen AI allows agents to focus on complex, high-value conversations, while also training and guiding AI to reflect the company’s voice, tone and brand values, instead of being stretched thin across repetitive tasks.
    Priya Vijayarajendran, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • What needs to happen to turn the nightcrawler—the same banal creature found in gardens and on flooded sidewalks across the continent—into a valuable commodity? . . .
    Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Which gluten-free pasta is best? Gluten-free pasta has received a bad reputation as a mushy, tasteless alternative for people with conditions that require gluten-free diets.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025
  • Indeed, members of the City Council voted to censure Turner for the tasteless action by a 6-3 vote.
    Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • And what often emerges instead is a dull kind of numbness, chronic irritability or total withdrawal.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
  • Commercial or bulk matcha is often a dull yellowish or brown color, coarse in texture, and noticeably bitter.
    Devorah Lev-Tov, Vogue, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • Seeing that expansion and contraction over and over for six episodes (let alone three seasons) can grow tiring, and Season 3 certainly suffers from a sense of exhaustion.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 27 June 2025
  • Now in his 80s trips to the islands are more challenging, and maintaining a boat that can make the journey is expensive and tiring.
    Kathleen Rellihan, Outside Online, 8 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Insipid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insipid. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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