vapid

Synonym Chooser

How is the word vapid distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of vapid are banal, flat, inane, insipid, and jejune. While all these words mean "devoid of qualities that make for spirit and character," vapid suggests a lack of liveliness, force, or spirit.

an exciting story given a vapid treatment

When can banal be used instead of vapid?

While in some cases nearly identical to vapid, banal stresses the complete absence of freshness, novelty, or immediacy.

a banal tale of unrequited love

When is flat a more appropriate choice than vapid?

Although the words flat and vapid have much in common, flat applies to things that have lost their sparkle or zest.

although well-regarded in its day, the novel now seems flat

When would inane be a good substitute for vapid?

The words inane and vapid can be used in similar contexts, but inane implies a lack of any significant or convincing quality.

an inane interpretation of the play

In what contexts can insipid take the place of vapid?

In some situations, the words insipid and vapid are roughly equivalent. However, insipid implies a lack of sufficient taste or savor to please or interest.

an insipid romance with platitudes on every page

Where would jejune be a reasonable alternative to vapid?

The meanings of jejune and vapid largely overlap; however, jejune suggests a lack of rewarding or satisfying substance.

a jejune and gassy speech

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vapid Those are the kind of sentences that people will remember, unlike the vapid rhetoric of Joe Biden. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2024 After traveling to Los Angeles for a seminar and getting roped into investigating a string of murders, the BAU gets a close look at just how vapid and violent Hollywood can be. EW.com, 6 June 2024 There’s an appealing dissonance between the look of the stubby pony and the performer’s potent pipes, which seem better suited for soulful rock tunes than vapid pop. Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 17 May 2024 And there’s also Wow Platinum (Aubrey Plaza), a vapid Wall Street reporter who used to be Caesar’s mistress, is now Hamilton’s wife, and will destroy her former lover by any means necessary. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for vapid 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vapid
Adjective
  • Most of this long flashback segment is pretty boring, though.
    Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024
  • Toyota and Honda have at times been called boring: Honda by its own engineers, Toyota more famously by a chairman descended from the company’s founder.
    Robert Ferris, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Give yourself permission to go see a truly stupid movie.
    Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US, theweek, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Among the show’s many, many, many Twilight Zone spoofs, this one is the funniest and the best, with a conclusion that’s equal parts brilliant and stupid.
    Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The show skips across the decades, dramatizing the interviews an older Dolours (Maxine Peake) did for a Boston College oral history of the Troubles, which were taped with the promise that they would be released only after participants’ deaths.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
  • By contrast, the prospect of citizenships and alliances—and perhaps conquests or crusades—structured around the opinions, beliefs, and subjective identities of ordinary people in times of peace would require a new (or very old) conception of empire.
    Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Wella Color Fresh Mask in Rose Blaze and Overtone Rose Gold for Brown Hair Coloring Conditioner are both rosy pink shades designed to be used over brown hair and can be easily swapped out for your regular conditioner when your color starts looking dull.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 2 Nov. 2024
  • Browsing through the options online, she was disappointed by how dull and samey everything was.
    Simon Hill, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • This means my phone was limited to T-Mobile's slower 5G service, which explains the lower speeds.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
  • It’s been a long, slow build for Annunen to become an NHL goalie, but getting to start six times in eight games for the Avs was a big step for him.
    Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Similarly, listening as a member of a large audience or having to listen for a long time was also tiring.
    Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Working while speaking was more annoying but less tiring than silence and noise.
    Dominique Fluker, Essence, 15 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Many wine lovers would argue that Merlot needed such a correction; the varietal was overproduced, blah and unremarkable.
    Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
  • But the evidence from other desire-disrupting drugs and experiments can help illuminate why certain people on GLP-1 drugs end up feeling a bit blah.
    Shayla Love, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2024
Adjective
  • Android 15’s second beta release has other notable additions today that didn’t make it to the relatively pedestrian first release.
    Umar Shakir, The Verge, 15 May 2024
  • Yet New England's 14-2 record and a defense that allowed the league's fewest points were not necessarily indicative of true dominance, as the team displayed a pattern of frequently doing just enough to win, the average margin of victory a fairly pedestrian 10.3 points.
    Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2024

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Thesaurus Entries Near vapid

Cite this Entry

“Vapid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vapid. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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