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bland

adjective
\ ˈbland How to pronounce bland (audio) \

Definition of bland

1a : smooth and soothing in manner or quality bland approval a bland smile
b : exhibiting no personal concern or embarrassment : unperturbed a bland confession of guilt
2a : not irritating, stimulating, or invigorating : soothing a bland oil the bland climate of the southern coast
b : dull, insipid bland stories with little plot or action a bland rendition of the song
c : lacking strong flavor Expect both kinds of salsify to be subtle and delicate—too bland for some tastebuds.— Elizabeth Schneider
Other Words from bland Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about bland

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Other Words from bland

blandly \ ˈblan(d)-​lÄ“ How to pronounce blandly (audio) \ adverb
blandness \ ˈblan(d)-​nÉ™s How to pronounce blandness (audio) \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for bland

suave, urbane, diplomatic, bland, smooth, politic mean pleasantly tactful and well-mannered. suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction. a suave public relations coordinator urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience. an urbane traveler diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully. a diplomatic negotiator bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities. a bland master of ceremonies smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity. a smooth salesman politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people. a cunningly politic manager

Examples of bland in a Sentence

The vegetable soup was rather bland. The diplomat's bland statement did nothing to calm the situation.

Recent Examples on the Web

 The steam, in fact, seemed to influence the meat more than the hot iron, leaving it as pale and bland as roast beef. — Mike Sutter, ExpressNews.com, "Review: Aldaco’s Mexican Cuisine restaurant is mid-level Mexican food in San Antonio’s Stone Oak," 22 Aug. 2019 But the fact was that this day was all about Megan Rapinoe, who seems contractually obligated to never be bland. — Grant Wahl, SI.com, "Rapinoe Covers Spectrum of FIFA, Respect, Dutch on Women's World Cup Final Eve," 6 July 2019 So many professional athletes are determinedly bland, so good for Price for not being a robot. — Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, "David Price and Dennis Eckersley should meet — and get this over with," 18 July 2019 That early broom-fight fantasy displays the energy and resourcefulness that will help Jane (Anne Flowers, channeling bland pluckiness) triumph over high-seas dangers and Jolly Roger skulduggery. — Celia Wren, Washington Post, "Jane Hawkins takes center stage in Synetic’s reimagined ‘Treasure Island’," 24 July 2019 Though still typically native species, the bland spuds lack the nutritional value of the more colorful potatoes that have been favored here for centuries. — National Geographic, "Here’s why every foodie you know is heading to Peru," 19 July 2019 There’s something intensely calming about the mediocre, bland sameness of airport newsstands. — Andrea Whittle, Condé Nast Traveler, "In the Battle of Hudson News Versus Willpower, Hudson News Always Wins," 19 July 2019 But these helmets usually come in a bland white and don’t have the usual colorful appearance of clothing and accessories made for infants. — Jason Duaine Hahn, PEOPLE.com, "Artist Turns Corrective Helmets Worn by Babies With Flat Head Syndrome Into Art," 16 July 2019 The blond leading the bland What of Mr Johnson’s rival? — Boris Johnson, The Economist, "Boris Johnson, illusionist," 4 July 2019

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

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First Known Use of bland

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for bland

Latin blandus

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More Definitions for bland

bland

adjective
How to pronounce bland (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of bland

: not interesting or exciting
: lacking strong flavor
: showing no emotion, concern, etc.

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

bland

adjective
\ ˈbland How to pronounce bland (audio) \
blander; blandest

Kids Definition of bland

1 : not interesting or exiciting a bland story
2 : not having much flavor a bland soup
3 : not showing emotion a bland face

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