Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of bland are diplomatic, politic, smooth, suave, and urbane. While all these words mean "pleasantly tactful and well-mannered," bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities.

a bland master of ceremonies

When is diplomatic a more appropriate choice than bland?

The meanings of diplomatic and bland largely overlap; however, diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully.

a diplomatic negotiator

When could politic be used to replace bland?

Although the words politic and bland have much in common, politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people.

a cunningly politic manager

Where would smooth be a reasonable alternative to bland?

The synonyms smooth and bland are sometimes interchangeable, but smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity.

a smooth salesman

When can suave be used instead of bland?

While in some cases nearly identical to bland, suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction.

a suave public relations coordinator

In what contexts can urbane take the place of bland?

While the synonyms urbane and bland are close in meaning, urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience.

an urbane traveler

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 bland These are easy ways to spruce up otherwise bland statements. Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2025 Signs Your Salt Might Be Going Bad Salt is the invisible hero of the kitchen, often making the difference between a winning dish and a bland one. Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 9 Jan. 2025 The young actors are excellent, their bland surroundings coolly captured by Raphaël Vandenbussche’s easygoing camera. Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025 Choose bland foods such as crackers, toast, baked chicken or fish, potatoes, rice, and noodles. Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 7 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for bland 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bland
Adjective
  • There are few things more soothing than popping a gummy and lying down for a 90-minute massage.
    Tiney Ricciardi, The Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2025
  • Much research has gone into this field, with the AKC suggesting that classical, reggae, and soft rock music appear to be the most soothing for dogs.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Made of smooth vegan satin, the pillowcase is designed to be gentle on hair and skin.
    Isabel Garcia, People.com, 29 Jan. 2025
  • With the belief that skincare should be gentle, effective, and safe for everyone, every product is crafted with care, using natural and organic ingredients that are sustainably sourced.
    Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • With a focus on soft, natural tones, sustainable materials and biophilic elements like plants and greenery, this trend transforms hospitality spaces into peaceful sanctuaries.
    Roger Sands, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
  • But the Netanyahu government pressed on, defying all its critics and continuing to pound its foes, betting that a brutal demonstration of effective hard power would more than compensate for a loss of soft power—and within its brutal region, might even constitute its own form of soft power, as well.
    Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Reverend Bryant, the minister of a predominantly Black congregation, mellow in private but fiery in the pulpit, unites a community in death as in life.
    The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2025
  • For all the brand-new chaos Kitty brings to KISS in the sophomore season of Netflix’s XO, Kitty, things ended in a more mellow way compared to the finale of Season 1.
    Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Even if this weekend’s storms, which are predicted to be mild, bring an inch of rain, January would be the fifth driest since record keeping began in 1896, Anderson said.
    Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Holcomb is not bound by these recommendations and can impose a harsher or milder punishment.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Staying long after the funeral, the seemingly benign Jérémie begins to casually insinuate himself into his late mentor’s family.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Many of these users are benign, but some are not—including authoritarian regimes, cyber-hackers, and criminal gangs.
    Anne Neuberger, Foreign Affairs, 15 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near bland

Cite this Entry

“Bland.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bland. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on bland

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!