1
as in cliche
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of stale
This compartment even features two air vents to ensure no stale air gets trapped in with your shoes during travel.
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Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2024
Thankfully, this episode feels as fresh as the powder on Utah’s beautiful mountains and gives me hope that this won’t be a stale season.
—Sarah Hagi, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2024
Thanks to their shape and tortoiseshell pattern, these 100 percent UV-blocking shades won’t feel stale next season, despite fitting squarely into this year’s oversized aviator trend.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2024
The constant backtracking makes combat stale after a while.
—George Yang, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stale 
Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2024
Thankfully, this episode feels as fresh as the powder on Utah’s beautiful mountains and gives me hope that this won’t be a stale season.
—Sarah Hagi, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2024
Thanks to their shape and tortoiseshell pattern, these 100 percent UV-blocking shades won’t feel stale next season, despite fitting squarely into this year’s oversized aviator trend.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2024
The constant backtracking makes combat stale after a while.
—George Yang, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stale
Adjective
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But to play to that dichotomy is a tightrope walk: lean too far one way and Indy becomes boring, either as too normal or a superhero.Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2024
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Eggnog Eggnog is a hard sell because most people have only had the bad kind, those boring and occasionally gross cartons that line the dairy section of the supermarket every December.Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Founded by artists who grew up in Maryvale, Salcido said the purpose of Labor is to be the bridge that shows the artistic capacity and potential of Maryvale because the neighborhood is too often stereotyped, underrepresented and ignored.David Ulloa Jr, The Arizona Republic, 6 Dec. 2024
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Chicano artists also critically reexamined stereotyped figures, such as the pachuco and pachuca, and retold current and historic events through artworks that questioned hegemonic narratives.Mary Thomas, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Adjective
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The show skips across the decades, dramatizing the interviews an older Dolours (Maxine Peake) did for a Boston College oral history of the Troubles, which were taped with the promise that they would be released only after participants’ deaths.Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
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By contrast, the prospect of citizenships and alliances—and perhaps conquests or crusades—structured around the opinions, beliefs, and subjective identities of ordinary people in times of peace would require a new (or very old) conception of empire.Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The same tired thoughts, predictable excuses, and familiar limiting beliefs play on repeat in your mind, keeping you stuck in patterns that don't serve your growth.Jodie Cook, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
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Somehow, some way, fans aren’t tired of him despite the fact his flow and production choices haven’t changed much.Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Popular Nail Polish Colors For Every Month 01 of 08 Short Nails Long nails have undeniably been the most popular nail length for the past five years—or perhaps more—however people seem to be tiring of the upkeep of long nails, no matter if natural or faux.Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024
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Parenting can be tiring but any mom or dad will tell you there are moments of magic sprinkled through every bit of the day-to-day grind.Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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But the hackneyed drama hasn’t mustered much enthusiasm from critics or moviegoers, and was unsurprisingly overlooked in the Globes’ best drama category.Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024
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Revelations that are supposed to be moving and heartfelt feel hackneyed and clichéd, and it’s not helped by Shyamalan’s amateurish performance.Will Leitch, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2024
Adjective
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At the center of the story are Phil (Timothy Spall) and Penny (Lesley Manville), a weary, unmarried couple burdened by their lack of love for each other and their crumbling household.Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
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In both cases, the Lakers could receive enough assets to begin a rebuilding project that their weary fans would surely support.Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Wine and conversation flow on a slow tour of the natural vineyards in Spain’s Castilla y León.Megan Lloyd, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2024
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No one knows for sure why the rally happens but some experts attribute it to such seasonal things as holiday shopping and investors wrapping up their books before the end of the year, ahead of a slower January.Benzinga, Detroit Free Press, 7 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near stale
Cite this Entry
“Stale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stale. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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