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 Performances range from bad to worse (Jude Law as Captain Hook is permanently running on fumes), Neverland is a dreary landscape of muted greens and browns, and the story becomes an insipid take on an adventurous classic. Barry Levitt, TIME, 21 Mar. 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 Sometimes the video was insipid, but that hardly mattered. David Rowell, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for insipid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insipid
Adjective
  • From there, the Angels have been one of MLB’s most bland and underachieving franchises.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2025
  • Charlie Byrd of New Babylon is almost as forgettable and bland.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Salon Clutch Structured yet theatrical, Le Salon is Jacquemus’s answer to the evening clutch—pared back, but never boring.
    Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 10 May 2025
  • Robinson stars as Craig Waterman, a regular suburban guy with a boring job, a charming florist wife who's losing interest in him (Kate Mara), and a teenage son (Jack Dylan Grazer) whose indifference borders on hostility.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 9 May 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, 13 May 2025
  • The new device measures in at 5.8mm, which Samsung claims is its thinnest ever Galaxy S smartphone.
    Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • Her feeds from Paris Fashion Week 2016 are a representative sample—a pacifying stream of cream and white, diamonds and lace, outsize wealth made as banal as breakfast.
    Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 19 May 2025
  • The internet has encouraged only more comparison, and more consternation—more places to argue, more pressure to make even the most banal parts of our lives beautiful.
    Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • But tasteless fruit, likely results from a lack of nitrogen and phosphorous in the soil.
    Steve Bender, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The tree secretes gum arabic—a tasteless, nontoxic, pale-white or orange-brown sap that may be harvested at the end of the rainy season in sub-Saharan Africa.
    Erik Zou, JSTOR Daily, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The bristles of the brush manually sweep away dull, rough, flaky skin cells.
    Angela Palmer, Verywell Health, 20 May 2025
  • There’s an effort from the developer, Far Out Games, to tell a captivating noirish story here but the cutscenes and dialogue are painfully dull.
    Joshua Lamb, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Mets were three outs away from a sixth shutout in 23 games before Philadelphia scored four in the ninth off a tiring Max Kranick and Edwin Díaz.
    Tim Britton, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Naturally, Raducanu’s level took a dip and the 2024 U.S Open runner-up seized the chance to let rip against a tiring opponent.
    Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Insipid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insipid. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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