insipid

adjective

in-ˈsi-pəd How to pronounce insipid (audio)
Definition of insipidnext
1
as in bland
lacking in taste or flavor an apple pie with a mushy, insipid filling that strongly resembled soggy cardboard

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in boring
lacking in qualities that make for spirit and character an insipid and somewhat boring movie about teenagers in love

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word insipid distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of insipid are banal, flat, inane, jejune, and vapid. While all these words mean "devoid of qualities that make for spirit and character," insipid implies a lack of sufficient taste or savor to please or interest.

an insipid romance with platitudes on every page

When is banal a more appropriate choice than insipid?

In some situations, the words banal and insipid are roughly equivalent. However, banal stresses the complete absence of freshness, novelty, or immediacy.

a banal tale of unrequited love

When might flat be a better fit than insipid?

The words flat and insipid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, flat applies to things that have lost their sparkle or zest.

although well-regarded in its day, the novel now seems flat

In what contexts can inane take the place of insipid?

The meanings of inane and insipid largely overlap; however, inane implies a lack of any significant or convincing quality.

an inane interpretation of the play

Where would jejune be a reasonable alternative to insipid?

Although the words jejune and insipid have much in common, jejune suggests a lack of rewarding or satisfying substance.

a jejune and gassy speech

When can vapid be used instead of insipid?

The words vapid and insipid can be used in similar contexts, but vapid suggests a lack of liveliness, force, or spirit.

an exciting story given a vapid treatment

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 insipid Italy were insipid against the Swiss in that Euros defeat this time last year. —James Horncastle, New York Times, 20 June 2025 Amidst their insipid competition to win Harris’ favor, the three daughters lament that none of them will ever truly be their father’s favorite, as that title belongs to the daughter who never grew up: the actual youngest Sinclair daughter, Rosemary. —Alyssa Davis, People.com, 19 June 2025 Little Dog asks, an insipid comparison that illuminates only the fungibility of abstract nouns. —Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 6 May 2025 But the insipid Premier League displays that have pushed the club to the lower reaches of the table mean there is a scarcity of belief that such an outcome will come to pass. —Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for insipid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insipid
  1. bland
  2. boring
  3. thin
  4. banal
  5. tasteless
  6. dull
  7. tiring
Adjective
  • The new Spot+Scrub Ai is the complete opposite and comparatively bland, thanks to its all-black exterior.
    — Tyler Hayes, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Food made by white people is often associated with and critiqued for being bland and unseasoned.
    — Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Definition of bland
Adjective
  • Farming takes so long and is so boring, some of us said.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The Clark County Fire Department said that tunnel boring operations had been temporarily halted at the site pending an ongoing accident investigation.
    — Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • Leaders who pay attention to these lessons now will be best prepared to thrive in a world where the boundaries between Earth and orbit are becoming ever thinner.
    — Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of thin
Adjective
  • This discovery becomes a tear in the banal fabric of everyday life, in which Maria reluctantly assumes the triad of caretaker, undertaker and executor – faced with a series of subdued and, at times, perverse bureaucratic exchanges.
    — Olivia Bennett, Variety, 12 Aug. 2025
  • In this scenario, the Kremlin could meet a moment where its resistance to the banal inconveniences of reality, and the economic hardship of its own people, turns toxic.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
Definition of banal
Adjective
  • Thallium is a toxic heavy metal, and tasteless and odorless element.
    — Trent Abrego, Twin Cities, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Mineral oil is a tasteless, odorless oil that doesn't soak into the skin.
    — Lauren O'Connor, Health, 2 Sep. 2025
Definition of tasteless
Adjective
  • Early on, the dull chamber music of the Ferrari 296’s wide-angle V6 gas-electric hybrid powertrain was roundly criticized.
    — Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Rather than efficiently dicing and slicing your produce, a dull knife actually requires more force, which can cause you or someone else in your household to get hurt.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
Definition of dull
Adjective
  • Without a strict hierarchy or single decision-maker, our process can sometimes be slow, messy, or even tiring.
    — Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The film is a mess, opaque in its argument and tiring in its effortful weirdness, and yet in its best moments has a hypnotic pull.
    — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Definition of tiring

Browse Nearby Words

insinuations
insipid
insipidity
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Cite this Entry

“Insipid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insipid. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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