1
as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner
everyone was surprised by the racy joke from the usually staid professor
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in imposing
having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner
staid colors that would be good for business attire
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
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
-
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
-
What was once an event with great ceremony, solemn prayers and patriotic songs this year lasted fewer than 20 minutes before some 40 people.—
Jerry Shnay,
Chicago Tribune,
1 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
-
Michael Olise — France/Bayern Munich Olise made the leap to serious Ballon d’Or contender last season, tearing apart Bundesliga defences and elite Champions League opponents from his starting position on the right flank.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
-
If the cost of moving cargo to orbit falls by an order of magnitude, projects once confined to science fiction may begin to attract serious commercial investment.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
An assemblage of distinguished jurists, Ivy League professors, nonprofit leaders, journalists, and theologians sat around me in a half circle.—
Yoni Appelbaum,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
-
What distinguished Didion is her style, so carefully milled as to be not noticed at first.—
Zinzi Clemmons,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Firth is chilling, pushing his stern, fiercely intelligent demeanor in increasingly sinister directions and bringing nuance and gravity to the lengths Scanlon will go to fulfill his mandate, whatever the cost.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
9 June 2026
-
These adults are headed by Kevin Earley, who early on makes for a starchy rather than stern Captain.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
But Salih warned that many of those who went back did so under pressure and without basic infrastructure and conditions for a dignified life.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
-
Despite her lot in life, Sophie is highly educated, speaks fluent French and carries herself with dignified nobility.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
10 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
-
Fitzgibbons is known for being the chairman of event-planning firm Fait Accompli, which is the go-to wedding organizer within British aristocratic circles.—
Elise Taylor,
Vanity Fair,
11 June 2026
-
In my experience, some Americans with an overly keen interest in English aristocratic traditions seem motivated by disdain for their fellow citizens who are not descended from white Europeans.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Staid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staid. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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