stale
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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One man would make rosaries for the group out of stale bread.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
The model was trained to segregate the “pure news” in each article from that which was old and stale and, therefore, predictable.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 4, 2026
The forces behind these projects, like DC Studios’ co-chairman and co-CEO James Gunn, might talk about how they hope to shake up the stale genre with bold decisions.
From Salon ● Jun. 27, 2026
"I had no one to talk to all day -- to the point my mouth almost felt stale from not speaking. But then this little one came along and chatters with me all the time."
From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026
It was nothing like my mother’s cooking, but it was either that or stale bread.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
The debate over whether pineapple belongs on pizza is staler than a three-day-old Domino’s slice.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 31, 2022
“Under the Silver Lake” is rarely uninteresting, but it smells a little staler than it should.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 2019
Don’t be fooled by the fancy packaging, though: Rarely in the history of Broadway has a bigger, staler nothingburger been served up than “Pretty Woman.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2018
A mere clever conceit isn’t enough, and here, the action smells stale and the humor staler.
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2015
All this—all this about him—was like a bit of stale, flat, slightly greenish backwater—the big wheels churning away just beyond and paying it no attention, letting it grow staler and staler.
From Stubble by Looms, George
The stalest reality show becomes, in her telling, a Talmudic feat: “There is a tribunal of scholars who teaches them how to sing!” she tells Shulem breathlessly.
From The New Yorker ● Apr. 14, 2019
It opens with a fresh angle on one of the stalest scenes in music history, when Bob Dylan went electric at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.
From New York Times ● Apr. 12, 2018
Luckily, so expert is Firth’s timing—like that of Emma Thompson, as Bridget’s obstetrician—that laughs, often of the rueful variety, can be conjured in the stalest scenes.
From The New Yorker ● Sep. 16, 2016
When you compete in a multiplayer shooter and you are at a disadvantage until you unlock better weapons; that's the stalest of crust.
From The Verge ● Oct. 28, 2015
Imagination To the child, from the beginning, life is the unfolding of one vast mystery; to him our stalest commonplaces are great news, our dullest facts prismatic wonders.
From Wings and the Child or, the Building of Magic Cities by Nesbit, E. (Edith)
Traditionally, sourdough or challah that has staled a bit is used for French toast.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 25, 2022
As it staled, I toasted pieces under the broiler and dipped these into runny egg yolks.
From New York Times ● Feb. 7, 2022
Hers features an any-nut frangipane you can slather onto staled panettone, croissants, brioche or even white bread and top with your choice of nuts and fruit.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 20, 2021
The clerk’s disinterest practically staled the air, their voice over the speaker the droning whine of a giant, bored nose.
From Slate ● May 29, 2018
If the Preacher really had staled Mr. Leroy’s money, seemed to me like he’d try to make hisself real hard.
From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis
"The inclusion of legume flours slows staling associated with gluten-free breads due to the resistant starch content of legumes," said Lowe.
From Salon ● Feb. 8, 2022
Toasting had preserved the flavor, while staling had not.
From Salon ● Nov. 6, 2021
And from a wise Italian nonna, Antonietta Fazone, I learned that toasting bread, versus staling it on the counter overnight, it is preferable for preserving its flavor.
From Salon ● Nov. 6, 2021
The retrogradation of wheat starch in bread is responsible for staling.
From New York Times ● Aug. 6, 2016
"Och Murther," cried Mistress Pettit, "that a dacent woman like I should be charged with staling along with such a spalpeen as Tim Martin, your honor."
From Ups and Downs in the Life of a Distressed Gentleman by Stone, William L. (William Leete)
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