1
as in boring
lacking in qualities that make for spirit and character
unlike their early work, the band's latest offering is banal and uninspiring
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cliche
used or heard so often as to be dull
please find new ways of phrasing your thoughts instead of relying on banal expressions
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of banal
This time around, though, so many folks have posted the same quotes to the point that the brilliant is becoming banal.
—
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
For some, the coconut tree became a metaphor of joy in the otherwise banal political system.
—Raven Maragh-Lloyd, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2025
As someone who’s spent several Christmases in hotels or stadiums covering banal NFL matchups or blowouts in the College Football Playoff, there’s always a spot in my soul for the melancholy.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
Other chapters focus on more banal topics such as his efforts to get a pillow.
—Steven Ehrlich, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for banal
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
For some, the coconut tree became a metaphor of joy in the otherwise banal political system.
—Raven Maragh-Lloyd, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2025
As someone who’s spent several Christmases in hotels or stadiums covering banal NFL matchups or blowouts in the College Football Playoff, there’s always a spot in my soul for the melancholy.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
Other chapters focus on more banal topics such as his efforts to get a pillow.
—Steven Ehrlich, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for banal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for banal
Adjective
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The whole thing also looks pretty—budget and midrange phones tend to be super boring, but the Pixel 8A has a smart design with a matte rear texture.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
28 Feb. 2025
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Buck is a loquacious, glad-handing oaf who has a boring way with a witty story, and is marked for death.—
Fred Schruers,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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If the bland season premiere is any indication, don’t expect many of those this year.—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vox,
13 Feb. 2025
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Their beiges aren’t at all bland and boring—quite the opposite, actually.—
Shanna Shipin,
Glamour,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Tragedies can be examined by those outside of its sphere of destruction, but the groundswell of feeling from Mexican viewers and critics is that there was little or no care taken to understand the cultural grief beyond stereotyped spectacle.—
Lucy Ford,
TIME,
24 Jan. 2025
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Founded by artists who grew up in Maryvale, Salcido said the purpose of Labor is to be the bridge that shows the artistic capacity and potential of Maryvale because the neighborhood is too often stereotyped, underrepresented and ignored.—
David Ulloa Jr,
The Arizona Republic,
6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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At the far extreme, there is the insipid libertarianism of Ron Paul, the former Texas representative, who has claimed that Marine detachments guarding U.S. embassies count as examples of military overstretch.—
Bret Stephens,
Foreign Affairs,
5 Feb. 2013
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The blandly positive lyrics seemed even more insipid amid all the bedroom jams.—
Eric Webb,
Austin American-Statesman,
1 June 2024
Adjective
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In the skincare world, the best retinol serums are put on a pedestal, touted for their ability to breathe new life into tired, aging skin.—
Denise Primbet,
Glamour,
24 Feb. 2025
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Research has also found long-term exposure can result in anemia, which can leave patients feeling weak and tired; a low white blood cell count, which debilitates the immune system; and a low platelet count, which leads to excessive bleeding and bruising.—
Deborah Vankin,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Preview Robert De Niro's Netflix thriller 'Zero Day' is a starry but dull dud: Review Patrick Schwarzenegger is 'White Lotus' Season 3 breakout, and dad Arnold is pumped Donnie Wahlberg is heading to 'Blue Bloods' Boston spinoff Ralph Macchio and William Zabka were 'Karate Kid' rivals.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA TODAY,
25 Feb. 2025
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This portable, rollerball serum can be used twice a day on dull, uneven, and post-blemish skin.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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While fentanyl is not widely abused in Mexico, methamphetamine addiction is commonplace.—
Greg Wehner,
Fox News,
19 Feb. 2025
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Data breaches are now commonplace, with over 22 billion records exposed globally in 2021 alone.—
Chad Angle,
Forbes,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This Atlético Madrid side is going from strength to strength and is showing little sign of tiring even as the pressure heats up.—
Sam Leveridge,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
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The first few years of being a parent can be among the most tiring as moms and dads try and often fail to get infants into a regular routine of unbroken sleep at night.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Banal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banal. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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