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Definitions

stale

[steyl] / steɪl /
ADJECTIVE
old, decayed
Synonyms
STRONGEST
musty smelly sour stagnant watery
STRONG
dried dry faded parched rank reeking spoiled stinking
WEAK
dead fetid flat fusty hard insipid malodorous noisome stenchy tasteless weak zestless
Antonyms
STRONG
damp moist wet
WEAK
current fresh new underused
ADJECTIVE
overused, out-of-date
Synonyms
STRONGEST
corny dull hackneyed shopworn threadbare tired
STRONG
antiquated bent out stereotyped
WEAK
banal cliché cliché-ridden clichéd common commonplace dead drab dusty effete flat fusty insipid like a dinosaur mawkish moth-eaten passé past platitudinous repetitious timeworn trite unoriginal well-worn worn-out yesterday's zestless
Antonyms
STRONGEST
active fresh new original
WEAK
current underused

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.

By the time Coppola readied her pivotal first film, “The Virgin Suicides,” Jacobs was crowned the powerhouse creative director of Louis Vuitton, tasked with infusing a stale heritage luxury brand with youthful energy.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

They aren’t just stale; to use Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy’s excellent new phrase, they’re as “dead as fried chicken.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 11, 2026

Nor were they ever considering how the first fight went in 2015 – delivered five years too late and as stale as feared.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

Like every other element, this one is stale and flat.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

Nathan stepped into the hogan and immediately noticed how thick and stale the air inside was.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.