plain Jane 1 of 2

plain-Jane

2 of 2

adjective

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 plain Jane
Noun
Sure, there’s the plain Jane staples, but Fat Patty also offers a variety of specialty burgers. Renee Umsted, Charlotte Observer, 16 May 2025 Jane starts off literally like plain Jane, very sweet and wholesome. EW.com, 25 Feb. 2025 If a plain Jane hamburger is your thing, go for it. Rasputin Todd, The Enquirer, 7 Sep. 2023 This means that even your plain Jane, vanilla cookie lover will enjoy this cookie as much as the anything-goes cookie enthusiast. Elizabeth Karmel, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2022 The relationship is actually quite a bit more plain Jane than a lot of other relationships in the show. David Viramontes, Los Angeles Times, 23 Nov. 2022 Peer through their five spokes, and the standard cast-iron rotors and black calipers look plain Jane to those used to slotted discs and colorful binders, but there's always Porsche's $8970 ceramic composite brake option. Elana Scherr, Car and Driver, 6 Apr. 2022
Adjective
And while your Christmas tree might ordinarily be decked out with plain-Jane trimmings or classic tinsel, Walmart has the iconic Hallmark ornaments that will not only remind you of the good old days but spice up your decor. Megan Schaltegger, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Dec. 2024 The Romans christened it Insula Minor, Lesser Island, as if forever bequeathing it plain-Jane status next to Ibiza and Mallorca, its alluring Balearic sisters. Stephanie Rafanelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 May 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plain Jane
Noun
  • But so would Andy Sachs — a character who, in the first movie, was an everywoman both awed by wealth and put off by it, an outsider who briefly immerses herself in another world and then chooses to return to her own.
    Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Spielberg introduced a behind-the-scenes clip that didn’t quite confirm an alien theme, though plenty of menacing figures in unmarked black cars were seen chasing Blunt (who appeared in several scenes as an everywoman in a rural area).
    Matt Donnelly, Variety, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • This minimalist approach is refined, though perhaps too plain.
    Charles Jefferies, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Perk up a plain pillow by enlarging a leaf, using a copier to make a pattern.
    Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Born on a New York farm in 1821, Youmans didn’t come from a notable family or attend elite schools —his name even derives from yeoman, a self-reliant commoner.
    Sabrina Schaeffer, Oc Register, 4 July 2025
  • Once reserved for aristocrats, these menageries opened to the public in the 17th and 18th centuries; commoners could also attend performances hosted by itinerant showmen who traveled from town to town with exotic species in tow.
    Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • This isn’t your typical AI use case.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The battery is said to last eight hours of typical use, and the charging case will now provide an extra 48 hours of battery on top.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • On the one hand, the proletarian contributes every bit of on-the-clock activity to the value of the resulting commodity.
    Benjamin Kunkel, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The song, now considered a protest anthem, is about a social revolution in which French proletarians stand against the ruling class — in this case, an oppressive monarchy.
    Raven Brunner, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • With pale, irregular surfaces dotted with black bits of char, the homely slabs aren’t much to look at, but the first bite packs a big smoky punch that only grows with each subsequent chew.
    Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Conjure the homely, heart-warming elements of the season and take inspiration from nature with Taupe 03 Soho Roc House by Lick.
    Emily Williams, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Another plaintiff, referred to in court filings as John Doe, sued Immanuel, its insurer and Smith that same day.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The Supreme Court emphasized that its September 10 denial of South Carolina's application was not a ruling on the merits of John Doe's claims but was based solely on the standards for emergency relief.
    Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Holly, who did not share her last name, posed in the familiar tourist style—appearing to hold up the tilted tower.
    Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The fantastic is used to sketch out familiar story lines, but the metaphysical premise remains as vague as the dramatic stakes in the lives of the characters.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Plain Jane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plain%20Jane. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

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