1
as in cliche
used or heard so often as to be dull
viewers were bored by the stale story lines of the new crop of sitcoms
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
the sequel is basically a stale remake of the first movie
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stale
Fresh bread can be frozen to help it last longer and to prevent it from getting hard and stale, or worse, getting moldy.
—
Cody Godwin, USA Today, 2 June 2025
One reason roles become stale is that your value becomes invisible.
—Dr. Cynthia J. Young, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Coffee quality: Coffee pods aren’t as fresh as grinding your own beans, which can make coffee taste stale or flavorless.
—Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 24 May 2025
For the record, Raja refuses to buy the stale debate, sometimes raised by pizza fanatics, that South Florida water can’t flavor the crust like New York water can.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stale
Cody Godwin, USA Today, 2 June 2025
One reason roles become stale is that your value becomes invisible.
—Dr. Cynthia J. Young, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Coffee quality: Coffee pods aren’t as fresh as grinding your own beans, which can make coffee taste stale or flavorless.
—Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 24 May 2025
For the record, Raja refuses to buy the stale debate, sometimes raised by pizza fanatics, that South Florida water can’t flavor the crust like New York water can.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stale
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
-
Several leaders described the pressure of being both highly visible and easily stereotyped.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
-
Their negative stereotyped reputation seems to follow them like ageism follows older employees or sexism follows female employees.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The departing older president, the incoming younger Kennedy.—
Dr. Richard Fichman,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2025
-
While older South Koreans remain most at risk, suicide is now the leading cause of death for those aged 10 to 39.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 June 2025
Adjective
-
Mowing Lawns Homeowners are usually away on vacation or are probably too tired to maintain their yards.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
-
But, in Dick’s opinion, Charlie grew tired of baseball’s daily grind.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
22 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
Adjective
-
This hackneyed stance has turned his concert performances shrill and hollow.—
Armond White,
National Review,
28 May 2025
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Yet these hackneyed qualities are minor aspects of a production that otherwise can be eye-opening and newly invigorating.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
After dark, there’s a Midnight Snack cart delivering warm, comfort-food bites to weary red-eye travelers (because New York never sleeps, and neither do airport people).—
Paul Rubio,
AFAR Media,
23 June 2025
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But others may hear Xi Jinping’s call not as a rallying cry but as a weary echo of the past.—
JOSEPH TORIGIAN,
Foreign Affairs,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
The music is, for the most part, quiet and slow, often hovering at the edge of silence.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
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Juicy, tender ribs are hard to beat, and cooking them low and slow is the key to achieving that irresistible fall-off-the-bone texture and deep, savory flavor.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stale. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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