1
a
: smooth and soothing in manner or quality
bland approval
a bland smile
b
: exhibiting no personal concern or embarrassment : unperturbed
a bland confession of guilt
2
a
: not irritating, stimulating, or invigorating : soothing
a bland oil
the bland climate of the southern coast
c
: lacking strong flavor
Expect both kinds of salsify to be subtle and delicate—too bland for some tastebuds.—
Elizabeth Schneider
Elizabeth SchneiderExamples of bland in a Sentence
The vegetable soup was rather bland.
The diplomat's bland statement did nothing to calm the situation.
Recent Examples on the Web
While the buzz about Borderlands 4 has been mostly positive (aside from serious PC performance issues reported early on), the game’s bland opening feels out of keeping with the franchise, offering a reminder that Borderlands has always been about more than just slick gameplay.
—G Kirilloff, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Bad salad kits have sloppy cuts of vegetables, meager toppings and oily or single-note dressings that are either too salty or just plain bland.
—Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
PetMD advises a bland, easy-to-digest diet made up of lean proteins such as chicken or turkey, simple carbohydrates like rice or potatoes, and low fat content.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
This can lead to bland or dull-tasting dishes.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bland
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G Kirilloff, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Bad salad kits have sloppy cuts of vegetables, meager toppings and oily or single-note dressings that are either too salty or just plain bland.
—Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
PetMD advises a bland, easy-to-digest diet made up of lean proteins such as chicken or turkey, simple carbohydrates like rice or potatoes, and low fat content.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
This can lead to bland or dull-tasting dishes.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bland
Cite this Entry
“Bland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bland. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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