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
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
While the Federal Reserve began dialing back interest rates last fall, investors spent much of 2024 enjoying attractive yields on a range of plain-vanilla savings products.
—Darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2025
Even plain-vanilla index funds like the InfraCap MLP ETF (AMZA) deal with dividend declines; unlike traditional companies that will maintain a specific dividend level, MLPs’ distributions tend to shift with their profits.
—Brett Owens, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
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
While the Federal Reserve began dialing back interest rates last fall, investors spent much of 2024 enjoying attractive yields on a range of plain-vanilla savings products.
—Darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2025
Even plain-vanilla index funds like the InfraCap MLP ETF (AMZA) deal with dividend declines; unlike traditional companies that will maintain a specific dividend level, MLPs’ distributions tend to shift with their profits.
—Brett Owens, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plain-vanilla
Adjective
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Strufe adds that while intelligence agencies or cybercriminals have simpler ways to monitor people – such as accessing CCTV cameras or video doorbells – the widespread presence of wireless networks could eventually form a near-comprehensive surveillance infrastructure.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Oct. 2025
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The simplest way to find influential people in a network is called degree centrality—just count the number of connections for each person.—
Jack Murtagh,
Scientific American,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Caving—which is the more extreme cousin to spelunking—is physically and mentally challenging but also adrenaline fueled and just plain fun, too.—
Heide Brandes,
AFAR Media,
15 Oct. 2025
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And those, including a defense of quarterback Beau Pribula, were plain and worthy on Tuesday in the wake of MU’s first loss of the season last Saturday against Alabama.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plain-vanilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plain-vanilla. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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