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Synonym Chooser

How is the word staid different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of staid are earnest, grave, sedate, serious, sober, and solemn. While all these words mean "not light or frivolous," staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint.

a quiet and staid community

Where would earnest be a reasonable alternative to staid?

While the synonyms earnest and staid are close in meaning, earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

an earnest reformer

When can grave be used instead of staid?

While in some cases nearly identical to staid, grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude.

read the proclamation in a grave voice

When is sedate a more appropriate choice than staid?

The meanings of sedate and staid largely overlap; however, sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness.

remained sedate amid the commotion

In what contexts can serious take the place of staid?

The words serious and staid can be used in similar contexts, but serious implies a concern for what really matters.

a serious play about social injustice

When could sober be used to replace staid?

In some situations, the words sober and staid are roughly equivalent. However, sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity.

a sober look at the state of our schools

When would solemn be a good substitute for staid?

The words solemn and staid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.

a sad and solemn occasion

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 staid The traditionally staid and formal official White House social media accounts have under the second Trump administration become a fertile ground for memes, images generated by artificial intelligence (AI) and other unorthodox ways to tweak opponents and promote the president’s agenda. Brett Samuels, The Hill, 7 May 2025 Roberts, who often looked to me like an English schoolboy—rumpled shirt, rep tie—had worked with Tina to transform the British magazine Tatler from a staid society rag into a place of mischief. Hilton Als, New Yorker, 2 June 2025 The cultural sphere of Paris is interested in modern art – the famous people are Picasso, all these avant-garde influencers – but within the staid, traditional art world, it’s still seen as this inconsequential art movement. Erin Douglass, Christian Science Monitor, 29 May 2025 Volvo long ago dispatched its staid exterior, with the latest modifications further modernizing the vehicle’s appearance. James Raia, Mercury News, 25 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for staid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staid
Adjective
  • Only the buzz of Israeli drones overhead filled the solemn silence.
    Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 7 June 2025
  • The score becomes grand and syrupy whenever there’s a big emotional revelation; characters deliver solemn soliloquies on the orderly beauty of math.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • The far more imposing limit is MLS’s global standing.
    Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 8 Feb. 2025
  • And on the other hand, in a world where most of their top arms remain healthy and effective, the Dodgers could possess one of the most imposing starting pitching staffs in recent memory.
    Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • There were no serious injuries reported or arrests made among the crowd of about 500 teenagers.
    David Matthews, New York Daily News, 6 June 2025
  • Nobody else can do what Isak does, but Newcastle lack serious backup at centre-forward.
    Chris Waugh, New York Times, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • Today, that distinguished tradition continues, with the distillery's current leadership or their cadre of seasoned master tasters personally vetting these casks.
    Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
  • It’s been a long time since Florida’s university system was put to such disgrace as the Board of Governors did Tuesday in rejecting the distinguished scholar Santa Ono as the lone finalist for president of the University of Florida.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • It’s submerged 11 to 15 feet deep, with its stern facing the shore.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2025
  • Tonight: Explore! TAURUS (April 20-May 20) ★★★ Avoid arguments with others today, which might arise with Mercury in your House of Communications at odds with stern Saturn.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • Now, the Redditor is wondering if his response to his sister’s previous treatment toward his dog could be dignified.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 7 June 2025
  • In India and Nepal, the company supports its artisans not only through fair wages and dignified labor conditions but also by funding schools and housing for their families.
    Christopher Marquis, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Adjective
  • More decorous versions simply excluded Jews, Blacks, and others to create those ethnic enclaves Vance decries in the form of elite institutions from country clubs to, formerly, Congress and the courts.
    Rebecca Solnit August 23, Literary Hub, 23 Aug. 2024
  • Instead, they are selected and rearranged to form a narrative of gradual debasement: a semantic descent from the decorous to the vulgar, often ending with crude references to the body.
    Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Period dramas like Bridgerton, The Gilded Age, and Downton Abbey have fueled a global obsession with aristocratic living—but the real stars of these shows may be the homes themselves.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 June 2025
  • The Odeon was built in the 2nd Century for musical events and meetings of the aristocratic council.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Staid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staid. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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