1
as in stereotyped
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
Relevance
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
Relationships can benefit from variety so if something has felt stale, this transit brings back the sparkle.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
The worst are bitter, stale or bland.
—Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
The familiarity and predictability are so completely the point that 40 years ago Roger Ebert was shaking his head about how a brand-new movie could feel so stale.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
Things can get stale, so what drives you to keep things different?
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stale
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
The worst are bitter, stale or bland.
—Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
The familiarity and predictability are so completely the point that 40 years ago Roger Ebert was shaking his head about how a brand-new movie could feel so stale.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
Things can get stale, so what drives you to keep things different?
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stale
Adjective
-
Kelly Enders-Tharp, a three-time surrogate and education and experience specialist at Growing Generations, explains that surrogates are often stereotyped, or that their backgrounds are misrepresented.—
Kris Ann Valdez,
Parents,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Later, Lenape artist Joe Baker places cutout photographs of his ancestors over the stereotyped images of Native Americans found in the wallpaper.—
Tom McDonough,
Artforum,
1 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Never gets boring, never feels overplayed.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
1 May 2026
-
Pool, sauna, indoor fireplace, luggage drop-off, backyard With so much history and color around every corner in Marrakesh, why stay somewhere boring?—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
For homeowners tired of robotic mowers that demand nearly as much effort as traditional ones, the K1 is a genuine upgrade.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Susan Collins is an anemic and tired candidate.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Senior second baseman Alexis Richter has learned a lot about playing softball from her three older sisters.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The 73-year-old Weinstein kept his eyes trained on Mann throughout her Tuesday testimony, intermittently whispering to his attorney, Teny Geragos.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
While not exactly a feminist screed, the script grants nary a free pass to the glut of hackneyed gender conventions in the golden-age canon without at least cracking a joke.—
Naveen Kumar,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The plot never gets more complex than that at any point, but the game's use of these hackneyed story elements and themes is agile and smart.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Flimsy nozzles crack and leak, and heavy-duty nozzles get tiring to hold when your garden calls for more watering time than your hands can handle.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Swift herself talked about how tiring the tour was and what her plans for the future were last October on BBC Radio 1 with Greg James.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Nevertheless, fashion is still top of mind for inflation-weary customers.—
Roy Stephen Canivel,
Footwear News,
4 May 2026
-
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
Banchero up-and-down The Magic superstar forward got off to a slow start by opening 1-for-6 from the field, including missing his first four 3-pointers.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
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More Americans are heading into retirement without a pension, and are instead leaning on savings accounts and investment portfolios that have become increasingly subject to market swings and the slow erosion of inflation.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stale. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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