1
as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner
everyone was surprised by the racy joke from the usually staid professor
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in imposing
having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner
staid colors that would be good for business attire
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of staid
Besides its low price and tabloid size, penny newspapers differed in some ways from the more typical staid political press in its offerings.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026
The Minneapolis Fed’s report described conditions in a staid manner, noting flat overall economic activity in its district.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
Buttigieg is more staid in tone.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
State of the Union speeches have turned from staid to raucous in the past 16 years.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for staid
Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026
The Minneapolis Fed’s report described conditions in a staid manner, noting flat overall economic activity in its district.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
Buttigieg is more staid in tone.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
State of the Union speeches have turned from staid to raucous in the past 16 years.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for staid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staid
Adjective
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This visual story captures solemn moments of faith, tradition and community as worshippers publicly observed one of Christianity’s most sacred Holy Week rituals.—
Al Diaz,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
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The solemn liturgical service included the Lord’s Passion from the Gospel of John.—
Holly Andres,
Daily News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Only Andy Pages has looked alert in the Dodgers’ super-imposing lineup, which would have been shut out before a crowd of 45,556 at Dodger Stadium if not for Freddie Freeman’s two-out home run in the ninth inning.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
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The Blue Devils – led by the physically imposing, likely top-three NBA Draft pick, Cameron Boozer – had the second-biggest roster in the country, including four other players expected to join Boozer in June’s NBA Draft.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The victim suffered serious injuries to her right ear, right cheek and face, including a laceration that was about 6 inches long, officials said.—
Katie Houlis,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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The broad ban on advertising also raises serious constitutional concerns.—
Cláudia Nunes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Saudi Arabia is using its East-West pipeline, which stretches from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea, to transfer about 5 million barrels per day out of the Gulf, said Michael Lynch, distinguished fellow at Energy Policy Research Foundation, a non-partisan institution focused on energy and economics.—
Cathy Bussewitz,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
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Advertisement Curtis Bradley, a distinguished service professor of law at the University of Chicago, told TIME that there is, at least, some precedent, citing President Jimmy Carter's withdrawal from a mutual defense treaty with Taiwan in 1978, which was formalized in 1980.—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Some of the movie is an acid satire of pre-wedding rituals — like the first dance that Charlie and Emma are dutifully rehearsing for, with a ridiculously stern taskmaster of a coach.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
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Born in Michigan, Tolkan served in the Navy before studying at the Actors Studio, eventually becoming Hollywood’s go-to stern authority figure for decades.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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One face is of marble and tall glass with a few neo- classical dips and angles, dignified, but probably more suitable for a post office out in the stern Midwest than an urban bayscape in South Florida.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
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The bodies of pilot Antoine Forest and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther were prepared for transport at two Queens funeral homes and were expected to be taken to Newark Liberty International Airport for a dignified transfer back to Canada Wednesday night, sources with knowledge of the case said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Its decorous leaves are not even an inch long.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
14 Mar. 2026
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Lee Martino’s choreography, like the production as a whole, is at its best when observing decorous constraints.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Because the feudal courts, chivalric codes, and aristocratic patronage that had sustained it were gone.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
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The poisoning of a champion stallion opens an investigation that starts to expose tensions and secrets inside an aristocratic horse breeding dynasty.—
Emiliano de Pablos,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Staid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staid. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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