as in simple
free from all additions or embellishment
we decided to buy the plain-vanilla model because we don't have a lot of money to spend on extras
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Recent Examples of plain-vanilla
Powell’s term as a plain-vanilla board member continues until Jan. 31, 2028.
—
Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 3 May 2026
That means less plant capacity to make plain-vanilla DRAM for basic electronics like phones.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
That means less plant capacity to make plain-vanilla DRAM for basic electronics like phones.
—Debby Wu, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
Even the most basic plain-vanilla checking account carries an underlying cost for transaction processing and maintenance, estimated between $200 and $400 annually.
—Peter Su, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025
By blending plain-vanilla money funds with blockchain rails, the firm is proving that tokenization is not just a theory but a functioning business model.
—Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Your dingy, plain-vanilla concrete drive can be transformed to a stunning art piece by installing a thin cement stucco coating.
—Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 2 Aug. 2025
As a FactSet researcher told The Wall Street Journal, a more efficient, though less satisfying, way to virtue-signal would be to buy a plain-vanilla index fund and donate the investment gains to a political cause.
—semafor.com, 8 July 2025
Replacing the plain-vanilla look of the previous iteration, Alfa G’s black hull with a signature red stripe and white superstructure complete this remarkable conversion.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 10 June 2025
Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 3 May 2026
That means less plant capacity to make plain-vanilla DRAM for basic electronics like phones.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
That means less plant capacity to make plain-vanilla DRAM for basic electronics like phones.
—Debby Wu, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
Even the most basic plain-vanilla checking account carries an underlying cost for transaction processing and maintenance, estimated between $200 and $400 annually.
—Peter Su, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025
By blending plain-vanilla money funds with blockchain rails, the firm is proving that tokenization is not just a theory but a functioning business model.
—Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Your dingy, plain-vanilla concrete drive can be transformed to a stunning art piece by installing a thin cement stucco coating.
—Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 2 Aug. 2025
As a FactSet researcher told The Wall Street Journal, a more efficient, though less satisfying, way to virtue-signal would be to buy a plain-vanilla index fund and donate the investment gains to a political cause.
—semafor.com, 8 July 2025
Replacing the plain-vanilla look of the previous iteration, Alfa G’s black hull with a signature red stripe and white superstructure complete this remarkable conversion.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 10 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plain-vanilla
Adjective
-
Armando Chavez, owner of local business NorCal Siders, was brought in for a simple roof patch-up but left with a big idea.—
Kayla Moeller,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
-
The cause can be something as simple as a lack of water or more complex, like fungal wilt diseases, tomato wilt viruses, walnut toxicity, or boring insects.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
This is my dream job, plain and simple.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 June 2026
-
The surprise room was plain, with two chairs and a table.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plain-vanilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plain-vanilla. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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