Definition of staidnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word staid different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of staid are earnest, grave, sedate, serious, sober, and solemn. While all these words mean "not light or frivolous," staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint.

a quiet and staid community

Where would earnest be a reasonable alternative to staid?

While the synonyms earnest and staid are close in meaning, earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

an earnest reformer

When can grave be used instead of staid?

While in some cases nearly identical to staid, grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude.

read the proclamation in a grave voice

When is sedate a more appropriate choice than staid?

The meanings of sedate and staid largely overlap; however, sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness.

remained sedate amid the commotion

In what contexts can serious take the place of staid?

The words serious and staid can be used in similar contexts, but serious implies a concern for what really matters.

a serious play about social injustice

When could sober be used to replace staid?

In some situations, the words sober and staid are roughly equivalent. However, sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity.

a sober look at the state of our schools

When would solemn be a good substitute for staid?

The words solemn and staid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.

a sad and solemn occasion

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 staid And their struggle, within their world, to lead a good life, to lead a life that has meaning—their struggle between whether to pursue romantic adventure or a staid, bourgeois life—felt very real to me, at age twenty-five. Literary Hub, 26 May 2026 Like the language in which it was given, the ritual was formulaic, even staid. Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026 In contrast to that film’s 17-minute standing ovation, with Almodóvar running up and down the aisles, the six-and-a-half-minute standing ovation from the audience in the Grand Thêatre Lumière seemed positively staid. Jada Yuan, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2026 For decades, late-night TV has introduced trailblazers trying to break, or reinvent, the staid routine of stand-up monologues and celebrity chitchat. David Sims, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for staid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staid
Adjective
  • To be fair, abducted 9-year-old Rainy is pretty cute, with solemn eyebrows and a conscience that continually puts her in peril.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
  • The once-rising developer’s solemn promise is not likely to be fulfilled if court records in his federal criminal case and a parallel Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit are any indication.
    Jay Weaver June 6, Miami Herald, 6 June 2026
Adjective
  • There’s Chateau de Fère and Les Crayères, which is very imposing and old-fashioned; a couple of very nice funky little boutique hotels (including one owned by the Selosse family who make amazing, and amazingly priced, grower Champagne) and lots of good chambres d'hôtes.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
  • In person, Rowbottom is striking — tall, platinum blond, soft-spoken — though less imposing than carefully self-possessed.
    Mariella Rudi, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Adjective
  • My office will continue to vigorously prosecute defendants who pose serious threats to our community’s safety, especially our children.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
  • In a touching tribute, Saliba ran over to the sideline after scoring and held up the jersey of Ismaël Koné, the teammate who left the field on a stretcher minutes earlier after suffering what looked to be a serious leg injury.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • In 2014, he was selected to receive a lifetime achievement award for distinguished achievement in television direction from the Directors Guild of America.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 19 June 2026
  • Patriotism And Nationalism Are Not Identical Political philosophers and historians have long distinguished patriotism from nationalism.
    Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • Fold-down stern platforms create more than 50 square feet of additional usable space at anchor.
    Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 16 June 2026
  • The photo shows both the bow and the stern sections under construction.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 11 June 2026
Adjective
  • And because, in the face of fear and barbarism, solidarity remains one of the most beautiful and dignified forms of human resistance.
    Roberto Prieto, Variety, 19 June 2026
  • Universities, currently epitomizing the gerontocratic turn of American workplaces, could easily be transformed into models for dignified retirement once mandatory age limits are restored.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • This is a lovely, if rather decorous and reverent, tale of an illicit affair that’s unlikely to cause as much noise as Dhont’s last two films.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 22 May 2026
  • But such disagreements tended to be handled with the decorous language of diplomacy.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Rather than maintaining aristocratic distance, Nero linked his public image to the virtues and popularity of spectacle.
    Scott Atran, The Conversation, 17 June 2026
  • The wedding was reportedly held for a member of the aristocratic Schwarzenberg family.
    Staff Author, InStyle, 15 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Staid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staid. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

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