as in boring
lacking in distinctive features or qualities
a plain vanilla version of a song that's been recorded more times than necessary
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Recent Examples of vanilla
The court has ruled that the companies must develop a new product formula that does not include vanilla derived from non-vanilla plant sources within 12 months of the settlement’s finalization, according to the news release.
—
Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 30 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for vanilla
Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 30 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for vanilla
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vanilla
Adjective
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Simply, Florida’s Pro Day was as boring as ever.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
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Given a list, the sorts of things Americans are comfortable with AI doing tend to be impersonal or even boring tasks, as well as those that less directly impact them, like proofreading or searching online.—
Anthony Salvanto,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Fewer qubits, faster future The researchers tackled this problem using neutral atom systems, where atoms act as qubits and are arranged using laser beams known as optical tweezers.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Apr. 2026
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Pair it with matching black or nude heels for a neutral color scheme, or use your shoes to make a statement with a pop of color in a spring wedding guest look.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The furniture is more traditional than trendy—think beige walls, wood accents, and leather reading chairs.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
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The 4-year-old wore a beige eyelet sundress that resembled one of the As Ever founder's recent looks.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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That’s because giant hogweed is a member of the carrot family, and its nondescript leaves and white flowers resemble Queen Anne’s lace.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
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Behind a nondescript set of gates in Clerkenwell, the studio and home of Patrik Fredrikson and Ian Stallard has always operated a bit like a word-of-mouth secret among the creative set.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The 39th floor penthouse of SoftBank’s downtown Tokyo headquarters is not your usual featureless C-suite.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
24 Feb. 2026
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Objects that were invisible to Hubble are easily revealed to JWST; objects that appear blurry to Hubble appear sharp with JWST views; objects that appeared featureless to Hubble have many clear features visible within them as seen by JWST.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vanilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vanilla. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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