vanilla

adjective

Definition of vanillanext
as in boring
lacking in distinctive features or qualities a plain vanilla version of a song that's been recorded more times than necessary

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 vanilla The court has ruled that the companies must develop a new product formula that does not include vanilla derived from non-vanilla plant sources within 12 months of the settlement’s finalization, according to the news release. — Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 30 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vanilla
  1. boring
  2. neutral
  3. beige
  4. nondescript
  5. featureless
Adjective
  • Some have complained that Becerra is an unworthy, boring torchbearer for Latinos — not dynamic enough to meet a moment where many hoped for a firebrand.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Sure, this may sound kind of boring, but the city in the southern Guangdong province has also just been named as the country's leader in wealthy entrepreneurs and is the beating heart of China's AI and tech industry.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • Choose from seven rich, neutral tones, including deep chocolate brown and vibrant golden yellow.
    — Kate Donovan, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The rich plum color also makes a lovely accent against neutral bedding.
    — Jacorey Moon, Architectural Digest, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of neutral
Adjective
  • Her lips are topped off in soft, pale pink with a cool beige liner to subtly contour their shape.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Fair and light complexions can explore pink, peach and rosy-beige shades.
    — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of beige
Adjective
  • When any nondescript suburb opens a Cheesecake Factory, there’s no restaurant around that can compare to its palatial grandeur.
    — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026
  • And some nondescript utility boxes by county traffic lights will also be wrapped in GTA’s pinks and blues.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of nondescript
Adjective
  • In a featureless void, Irwin appears, wearing a long nightgown and a commedia dell’arte mask.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In the satellite photo, the woods were more or less featureless except for the town line, superimposed in yellow over the treetops, and a blue dot, me, on top of that yellow line.
    — James Whorton Jr, Longreads, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of featureless

Browse Nearby Words

vanguards
vanilla
vanish
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Vanilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vanilla. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on vanilla

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vanilla

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of valorous

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All