vapid

adjective

va·pid | \ ˈva-pəd

Definition of vapid

: lacking flavor, zest, interest, animation, or spirit : flat, dull a gossipy, vapid woman, obsessed by her own elegance— R. F. Delderfield London was not all vapid dissipation— V. S. Pritchett

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Choose the Right Synonym for vapid

insipid, vapid, flat, jejune, banal, inane mean devoid of qualities that make for spirit and character. insipid implies a lack of sufficient taste or savor to please or interest. an insipid romance with platitudes on every page vapid suggests a lack of liveliness, force, or spirit. an exciting story given a vapid treatment flat applies to things that have lost their sparkle or zest. although well-regarded in its day, the novel now seems flat jejune suggests a lack of rewarding or satisfying substance. a jejune and gassy speech banal stresses the complete absence of freshness, novelty, or immediacy. a banal tale of unrequited love inane implies a lack of any significant or convincing quality. an inane interpretation of the play

Did You Know?

Then away goes the brisk and pleasant Spirits and leave a vapid or sour Drink. So wrote John Mortimer, an early 18th-century expert on agriculture, orchards, and cider-making, in his book on husbandry. His use was typical for his day, when vapid was often used specifically in reference to liquor. The term, which entered English in the 17th century, comes from vapidus, a Latin word that means "flat-tasting" and may be related to vapor. These days, you're likely to hear people referring to wine as vapid. You're likely to hear the word in plenty of other situations, too. Vapid, along with the synonyms insipid, flat, and inane, is often used to describe people and things that lack spirit and character.

Examples of vapid in a Sentence

Waiting rooms, as I'm sure you know, are small rooms with plenty of chairs for waiting, as well as piles of old, dull magazines to read and some vapid paintings … while you endure the boredom that doctors and dentists inflict on their patients before bringing them in to poke them and prod them and do all the miserable things that such people are paid to do. — Lemony Snicket, The Ersatz Elevator, 2001 In a secular age, symbolic rituals such as lighting the Olympic torch inevitably risk seeming a little vapid. — Tony Perrottet, Civilization, June/July 2000 … the incompetent servant, by whomsoever employed, is always against his employer. Even those born governors, noble and right honourable creatures, who have been the most imbecile in high places, have uniformly shown themselves the most opposed (sometimes in belying distrust, sometimes in vapid insolence) to THEIR employer. What is in such wise true of the public master and servant, is equally true of the private master and servant all the world over. — Charles Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, 1865 a song with vapid lyrics

Recent Examples on the Web

The beautiful, vapid, red-haired Elsa badly burns her skin. — Rachel Cusk, The New Yorker, "Françoise Sagan, the Great Interrogator of Morality," 21 Aug. 2019 That did not surprise Ms. Li, who said Ms. Fan’s strength and authenticity belied popular perceptions of beautiful actresses as weak and vapid. — Steven Lee Myers, New York Times, "Fan Bingbing, China’s Top Actress, Talks of Comeback After Scandal," 2 Aug. 2019 So The Draw was ridiculously boring to watch and fatuously vapid as well. — Emily Todd Vanderwerff, Vox, "CNN’s debate draft special shows cable news has learned nothing from 2016," 21 July 2019 In a time where vapid Solo Cup pop country dominates the radio, musicians like Childers are claiming a corner of the roots genre that brings a sharp, realistic perspective to small-town struggles. — Chris Kenning, The Courier-Journal, "Who is a must-see at this year's Forecastle? These Louisville music experts weigh in," 3 July 2019 And throughout the series, the vapid, bratty U.S. ambassador (Greta Titelman) tosses off one-liners about green cards and the border crisis, the show’s way of casually critiquing immigration law. — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, "The Unique, Comic Alchemy of Los Espookys," 21 June 2019 The reasons were manifold: The characters were vapid. — Andrew Daniels, Popular Mechanics, "An Interview With My Wife, Who's Never Seen Star Wars, After I Made Her Watch 'The Phantom Menace'," 17 May 2019 Eventually, some sniping naysayer might say these comments seem pretty vapid. — Adi Robertson, The Verge, "How to use Instagram like an appropriation artist," 18 Oct. 2018 In the fine tradition of vapid Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Porsche Design phones made by tech companies that should know better, OnePlus has this morning announced a launch event for its collaboration with British supercar maker McLaren. — Vlad Savov, The Verge, "OnePlus preparing a McLaren 6T for December launch," 27 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vapid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for vapid

vapid

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of vapid

formal : not lively or interesting : dull or boring

See the full definition for vapid in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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vapid

Definition of vapid

Other Words from vapid

Choose the Right Synonym for vapid

Did You Know?

Examples of vapid in a Sentence

First Known Use of vapid

History and Etymology for vapid

English Language Learners Definition of vapid

vapid

Definition of vapid

Other Words from vapid

Choose the Right Synonym for vapid

Did You Know?

Examples of vapid in a Sentence

First Known Use of vapid

History and Etymology for vapid

English Language Learners Definition of vapid

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