stale

adjective

ˈstāl How to pronounce stale (audio)
Definition of stalenext
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

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 stale On that note, consider this an opportunity to do something different or, at the very least, give yourself the permission to break free from a stale routine. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026 Simpsons showrunner Matt Selman spoke with EW about how to keep the show from growing stale after decades on the air. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026 The appearance of a stale passing game could always be freshened, sure, but even that’s rooted in what is more obviously a stale running game. — Sam McDowell 31, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026 The team above feels recognisable and familiar and stale, but a new Newcastle is on the way. — Luke Bosher, New York Times, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for stale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stale
  1. stereotyped
  2. boring
  3. tired
  4. old
  5. hackneyed
  6. tiring
  7. weary
  8. slow
Adjective
  • Despite their outer appearances and oftentimes stereotyped personalities, the ladies embrace each other’s depths and contradictions.
    — Meagan Jordan, VIBE.com, 10 July 2026
  • This is a directed, stereotyped behavior in which the highest-resolution region of the somatosensory surface is brought to bear on the object requiring the most detailed analysis.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Definition of stereotyped
Adjective
  • Now the seven most boring, starting with the most tolerable (comments edited for grammar and clarity).
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
  • It’s been a boring week for Makyah, who’s in third grade at Banneker Elementary.
    — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • The new owners took over the keys to a tired and decaying club in the spring and have since overseen a summer renovation that has stretched from assembling a new first-team squad to restoring hot water to Hillsborough.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Despite all that staying power, glycerin and hyaluronic acid keep the full-coverage formula from feeling dry, while caffeine gives tired undereyes a brightening, de-puffing assist.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • Body cameras captured the moments Rialto police officers rushed to save a choking 3-year-old child last week.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Tatyana Montero, a 25-year-old Army based in Canada, was given one of Abby Elder's freebies in Las Vegas.
    — Nidhi Singh, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of old
Adjective
  • Maybe so, but think of how badly Congress had stated those hackneyed ideas.
    — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • 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
Definition of hackneyed
Adjective
  • Food & Drink You’ll find just two dining venues on the property, The Dining Room (which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and the poolside Palapa Bar, but there’s no chance of tiring of the fare.
    — Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Permanent Marker Removal Trying to scrub permanent marker away is tiring, time-consuming, and often futile without some type of product to loosen the marker.
    — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of tiring
Adjective
  • Walmart, Target and other retailers have been pushing discounts for the fall season, seeking to lure inflation-weary shoppers.
    — Anne D'Innocenzio, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • There were plenty of boulders to sit on, and even a chair someone hauled up for weary hikers.
    — Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of weary
Adjective
  • Those include Japan’s massive debt that exceeds 200% of GDP, fiscal stimulus that’s expected to worsen the deficit, and a central bank that’s been slow to raise rates in the face of high inflation.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
  • With two outs, Junior Caminero hit a slow roller on a 1-2 slider that third baseman Encarnacion-Strand could not field cleanly for a run-scoring infield single.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of slow

Browse Nearby Words

stalags
stale
stalemate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stale. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of stale for Spanish Speakers

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