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
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
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
Central bank policymakers embarked on their rate-hiking journey in March 2022, which had the pleasant side effect of boosting yields on a range of plain-vanilla investments, including Treasury bills and certificates of deposit.
—Darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2024
The resolution was a plain-vanilla environmental proposal urging the company to work harder to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of its products and to be more transparent about the impact of its business on the climate.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2024
Vanguard pioneered this plain-vanilla, total-market approach with index funds with clear labels, like Vanguard Total Stock Market, Vanguard Total Bond Market and Vanguard Total International Stock Market.
—Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 10 May 2024
Our plain-vanilla incentives are 35% plus a 2% to 4% percent kicker for diversity.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 20 Apr. 2024
Darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 28 Jan. 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
Central bank policymakers embarked on their rate-hiking journey in March 2022, which had the pleasant side effect of boosting yields on a range of plain-vanilla investments, including Treasury bills and certificates of deposit.
—Darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2024
The resolution was a plain-vanilla environmental proposal urging the company to work harder to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of its products and to be more transparent about the impact of its business on the climate.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2024
Vanguard pioneered this plain-vanilla, total-market approach with index funds with clear labels, like Vanguard Total Stock Market, Vanguard Total Bond Market and Vanguard Total International Stock Market.
—Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 10 May 2024
Our plain-vanilla incentives are 35% plus a 2% to 4% percent kicker for diversity.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 20 Apr. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plain-vanilla
Adjective
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Trevon Williams, who did not escape from the New Orleans jail, was charged with 10 counts of being a principal to simple escape, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced on May 23.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
25 May 2025
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As artificial intelligence models grow increasingly sophisticated, their capabilities extend far beyond simple task execution.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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To critics, the obvious answer would be ego, stubbornness or just plain stupidity.—
Robert Pearl,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
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The plain version of the chips got a high score, while the other, with a tequila lime flavoring, scored poorly.—
Maria Godoy,
NPR,
26 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plain-vanilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plain-vanilla. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
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