1
as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner
everyone was surprised by the racy joke from the usually staid professor
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in imposing
having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner
staid colors that would be good for business attire
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of staid
Some of these are arranged into more staid compositions of geometric bands of color, while others bend and bulge into shapes evoking the baroque ruination of junk-yard findings.
—
Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
The result is a money-is-no-object rebirth of a previously staid property.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026
The menu is another giveaway that this won’t be some staid meal.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
Although the likes of the Go Go’s and the Cars are present at times, the soundtrack as a whole seems too staid to provide a backdrop for ’80s kids kicking around in the heyday of punk.
—Gina Friedlande, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for staid
Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
The result is a money-is-no-object rebirth of a previously staid property.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026
The menu is another giveaway that this won’t be some staid meal.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
Although the likes of the Go Go’s and the Cars are present at times, the soundtrack as a whole seems too staid to provide a backdrop for ’80s kids kicking around in the heyday of punk.
—Gina Friedlande, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for staid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staid
Adjective
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Inspired by the most recent decade of killings of unarmed Black men by police, the seven prints selected from Henry’s series draw upon the sculptural pathos and solemn formalities of Michelangelo’s Pietà di San Pietro.—
Horace D. Ballard,
Artforum,
22 Apr. 2026
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While it’s meant to be a solemn moment, was that uncomfortable for you as a comedian?—
Stuart Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
One of the people listening was an imposing but soft-spoken guy dressed in black, with a baseball cap nearly covering his eyes.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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Only Andy Pages has looked alert in the Dodgers’ super-imposing lineup, which would have been shut out before a crowd of 45,556 at Dodger Stadium if not for Freddie Freeman’s two-out home run in the ninth inning.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Half a century later, the nation’s environmental problems are a lot less visible, but not, for that reason, any less serious.—
Elizabeth Kolbert,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Even in healthy children, measles can cause serious illness and death.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The honor of speaking at this distinguished ceremony is usually given to an eminent writer.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
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Congressman David Scott moved our state forward over half a century of distinguished public service – from working to bolster farmers and rural communities to putting health care in reach for children across our state.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
An Ada County judge let a Boise woman who stole jewelry from hospice patients off without prison time — but not without a stern warning and alternative punishment.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Apr. 2026
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When addressing Chasing Horse, Peterson took on a stern tone and admonished the actor and his attorney, Craig Mueller, for denying the charges and downplaying evidence of assault.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Also old is the idea that health is a collective responsibility, and that giving a dignified life to the poor is part of the government’s job.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
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Well, that won’t do, and Kyra soon embarks on a mission to install the sign, one that draws in every member of the community board while exposing the tensions simmering just below Vernon Point’s dignified facade.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But such disagreements tended to be handled with the decorous language of diplomacy.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
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The playing position was thought more decorous than the position for the violin, and the mandolin itself was visually attractive, appearing as a fashion accessory in any number of paintings.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
News articles and photos of the casual picnic enamored Americans, transforming their view of the royals as rigid and aristocratic to more down-to-earth.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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Set the scene The streets of Forte—as insiders call it—are a maze of tall box hedges and gates that shelter private villas built for wealthy and aristocratic Italian families.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Staid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staid. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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