STALE Synonyms: 211 Similar and Opposite Words

stale

adjective

ˈstāl

Definition of stale next

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 stale Then there’s Reid, who is understood to be an offensive genius and has become the fourth-winningest coach in NFL history in large part because of his ability to adapt … But whose offense increasingly has felt somewhere between stale and predictable. —

Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026 Opening the garage door periodically, especially after rain or humid days, can help flush out stale air. —

Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 2 May 2026 Fox execs, worried that cannibalism jokes would quickly become stale (and possibly made in poor taste), asked Bouchard to reconsider. —

Jason Maxey, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2026 Musty smells occur due to dampness, stale air, or residue left on fabrics. —

Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for stale

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stale

Adjective

Kelly Enders-Tharp, a three-time surrogate and education and experience specialist at Growing Generations, explains that surrogates are often stereotyped, or that their backgrounds are misrepresented.

— Kris Ann Valdez, Parents, 13 Feb. 2026
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