1
as in stereotyped
used or heard so often as to be dull
viewers were bored by the stale story lines of the new crop of sitcoms
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
the sequel is basically a stale remake of the first movie
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stale
The benefits of exchanging stale inside air for fresh outside air include ensuring adequate ventilation, reducing moisture build-up, getting rid of bad smells and helping fight mold, The Guardian said.
—
Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Ecoself Air Purifier, $60 with coupon Thanks to its large-room coverage, the air purifier works well in spaces like living rooms, bedrooms, or open-plan areas where air can start to feel stale.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
Everyone on the planet may smell like stale Budweiser and crumbled Fritos while watching the Super Bowl, but Bad Bunny doesn’t care.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2026
Many of those vendors have stopped shipping to its stores, which has led to empty shelves and stale inventory, the antithesis of what a luxury department store should offer and certainly not a way to inspire a shopper’s love.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stale
Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Ecoself Air Purifier, $60 with coupon Thanks to its large-room coverage, the air purifier works well in spaces like living rooms, bedrooms, or open-plan areas where air can start to feel stale.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
Everyone on the planet may smell like stale Budweiser and crumbled Fritos while watching the Super Bowl, but Bad Bunny doesn’t care.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2026
Many of those vendors have stopped shipping to its stores, which has led to empty shelves and stale inventory, the antithesis of what a luxury department store should offer and certainly not a way to inspire a shopper’s love.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stale
Adjective
-
Later, Lenape artist Joe Baker places cutout photographs of his ancestors over the stereotyped images of Native Americans found in the wallpaper.—
Tom McDonough,
Artforum,
1 Nov. 2025
-
Several leaders described the pressure of being both highly visible and easily stereotyped.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
Adjective
-
Shopping on a budget doesn't have to be boring.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
-
For the boring old textbook reason of shifting interest rate differentials.—
Kelly Evans,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Plush cushioning on the insoles relieves tired feet during the day, making these comfortable enough to wear for hours.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Some people are probably tired of hearing my name.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Of the final contenders—Zaida the Afghan hound, Cookie the Maltese, JJ the Lhasa apso, Graham the Old English sheepdog, Cota the Chesapeake Bay retriever, Penny the Doberman pinscher, and Wager the smooth fox terrier—four-year-old Penny was crowned the year’s top dog.—
Poupay Jutharat,
Vogue,
4 Feb. 2026
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The 83-year-old senator has had multiple health issues over the past few years, including publicly freezing during a press conference in 2023 and falling ahead of a Senate vote in October 2025.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This is actually better than some of the hackneyed rom-coms Reiner muddled through, a coming-of-age story about two kids’ pseudo-love story from grade school through middle school.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
16 Dec. 2025
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On the first real mission in the jungle region of Fury Green, Samus encounters a Galactic Federation technician named Myles Mackenzie who, from his reveal in the pre-release previews, became a sticking point for fans due to his hackneyed sidekick trappings.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
2 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Sound routines, sound tennis mind Pegula says that travelling all over the globe as a part of the WTA’s tour season is exhilarating on a day-to-day basis, but can be tiring over the long haul.—
Andy Frye,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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But before continuing its schedule, the Heat has two days off to rest and recover from this tiring stretch on the road.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Thirty years of closure didn’t slow down progress Despite more than half a century of entertainment, the State Theatre closed in 1990 as other movie theaters started popping up and the mechanics of the building became weary.—
Angela George,
Sioux Falls Argus Leader,
23 Jan. 2026
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Every imaginable class is on offer at the state-of-the-art fitness center and movement studios and weary muscles can be revived by hitting the Springhouse Circuit, which includes a salt room, cedar sauna, hyperbaric oxygen chamber, tepidarium, and cold plunge.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Some folks who were moving a little slow, some folks wanted to dilute the Canadiana or the Big C Canadian of it.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
In practice, the process is slow, burdensome, and uncertain.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stale. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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