vanilla

adjective

Definition of vanillanext
as in boring
lacking in distinctive features or qualities a plain vanilla version of a song that's been recorded more times than necessary

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 vanilla The court has ruled that the companies must develop a new product formula that does not include vanilla derived from non-vanilla plant sources within 12 months of the settlement’s finalization, according to the news release. — Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 30 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vanilla
  1. boring
  2. neutral
  3. beige
  4. nondescript
  5. featureless
Adjective
  • Indeed, Hank hurts lots of people in this action-comedy that doesn’t prove boring for a second but has trouble managing its disparate tones.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Ma brings a happy zeal — and an artist’s eye for detail — to creating a sense of wonder, fantasy and futuristic freedom in a world limited by boring, rational constraints.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • Express a positive sentiment, as opposed to a neutral or negative tone.
    — Paul Hsieh, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, try artisanal, handmade designs in neutral, earthy tones.
    — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of neutral
Adjective
  • The soft gray-white rattan complements the tailored beige high-density comfort cushions and creates an airy backdrop for your ever-evolving collection of seasonal all-weather pillows and throws.
    — Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Younger green beans are sometimes labeled baby limas at the store, while older, more mature beans may be known as butter beans, possibly due to their pale, beige color.
    — Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of beige
Adjective
  • From the outside, the building looks like a bunker, camouflaged amid a block of nondescript offices.
    — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026
  • In the corner of a nondescript office in Sheffield, a city in the north of England, a compact server full of Nvidia chips is whirring away.
    — Billy Perrigo, Time, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of nondescript
Adjective
  • Last year, Hershey prevailed in a lawsuit that claimed Reese's featureless Halloween pumpkins were a consumer letdown.
    — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The largely featureless landscape is crucial because NASA technicians know exactly how much reflected light satellites’ optical instruments should see in the area.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of featureless

Browse Nearby Words

vanguards
vanilla
vanish
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Cite this Entry

“Vanilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vanilla. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on vanilla

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vanilla

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