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
With season two taking its time getting on the air, the field of potential Best Comedy nominees this year was looking rather stale — until Widow’s Bay premiered.
—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
13 June 2026
College football was in desperate need of a new villain after the infighting between the SEC and Big Ten had gotten stale.
—
Austin Perry Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
From the inside, context drifts, prompts evolve in ways no one is tracking, data gets stale and decisions become harder to trace.
—
Doug Shannon,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
That could lead to stale intelligence, lawmakers said, including the type of information included in the president’s daily briefing.
—
Mary Clare Jalonick,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stale
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
13 June 2026
College football was in desperate need of a new villain after the infighting between the SEC and Big Ten had gotten stale.
—
Austin Perry Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
From the inside, context drifts, prompts evolve in ways no one is tracking, data gets stale and decisions become harder to trace.
—
Doug Shannon,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
That could lead to stale intelligence, lawmakers said, including the type of information included in the president’s daily briefing.
—
Mary Clare Jalonick,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stale
Adjective
-
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.
-
In some cases, praise took on overtly stereotyped forms: words like 'love' were used disproportionately with female students, while 'powerful' appeared only for Black students.
Adjective
-
Sustainable growth feels boring from the inside.
-
The point is to make the boring stuff feel like a hangout, not to build a productivity system.
Adjective
-
Hollywood Plot Lines and Reality These are the tired questions every UFO skeptic asks.
-
If your complexion tends to look flat or tired by midday, this powder can help bring back some radiance.
Adjective
-
On Tuesday night, the New York Post reported that the woman had been identified as Angie Baez, a 40-year-old financial industry executive.
-
As for 29-year-old Greenway notched six points in 40 games with the Sabres last season and scored three points in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games with Buffalo during the 2025-26 campaign.
Adjective
-
Maybe so, but think of how badly Congress had stated those hackneyed ideas.
-
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.
Adjective
-
This method is particularly useful for larger homes, hallways, and staircases where kneeling repeatedly would quickly become cumbersome or tiring.
-
The longtime Florida coach swapped a tiring McDonald for Russell Sandefer with one out in the top of the sixth inning.
Adjective
-
Wall Street will be watching to see if Amazon can further cement itself as consumers' to-go destination for everyday essentials at a time when inflation-weary shoppers are focused on value.
-
For our weary eyeballs, strained and tired from long periods locked onto screens, rest and relaxation can do wonders.
Adjective
-
What to expect over the weekend Though Friday was expected to be the slowest day of the competition, the atmosphere at Cal Expo was anything but dull.
-
Some residents are calling for civilian volunteers to help clear debris, frustrated by the slow pace of the rescue operations.
Cite this Entry
“Stale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stale. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
