bland

adjective

ˈbland

: smooth and soothing in manner or quality

bland approval

a bland smile

: exhibiting no personal concern or embarrassment : unperturbed

a bland confession of guilt

: not irritating, stimulating, or invigorating : soothing

a bland oil

the bland climate of the southern coast

: dull, insipid

bland stories with little plot or action

a bland rendition of the song

: lacking strong flavor

Expect both kinds of salsify to be subtle and delicate—too bland for some tastebuds.

Elizabeth Schneider

blandly

ˈblan(d)-lē How to pronounce bland (audio)

adverb

blandness

ˈblan(d)-nəs How to pronounce bland (audio)

noun

Example Sentences

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

Recent Examples on the Web The irony to me, and to many, is that networks have destroyed themselves with really bland, cookie-cutting programing over the years and people turned them off more and more.

Travis M. Andrews, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 So many athletes now are bland and guarded about their lives, their opinions — about everything, really.

Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 29 Aug. 2022 Press appearances are more limited and tightly controlled, and athletes heavily coached on how to remain bland no matter the line of questioning.

Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Aug. 2022 According to the conventional wisdom, real white culture — WASP-y amusements like golf, buffet dining and classical music — is comically bland.

Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2022 Moment-to-moment combat and driving sequences feel bland.

Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 22 Aug. 2022 Davis was an amazing Harvard heel in Legally Blonde, but the script borings him into a nice (and bland) guy, with way too big a role in Anne Marie's journey to Pipeline.

Darren Franich, EW.com, 17 Aug. 2022 My goal is for all the products that come in contact with my skin to be bland and mild and contain as few ingredients as possible.

Beth Krietsch, SELF, 17 Aug. 2022 Even a bland name, however, might not immunize the WHO against blowback.

Benjamin Mazer, The Atlantic, 17 Aug. 2022 See More

bland

adjective

as in soothing

not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect bland food that was good for babies and invalids

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

soothing
gentle
soft
mellow
mild
benign
light
quiet
smooth
delicate
serene
tender
placid
peaceful
balmy
tranquil
calm
nonabrasive
easy
pacific
sleek
slick
compassionate
clement
merciful
lenient
softening
emollient
cushioning
buffering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

harsh
coarse
caustic
abrasive
hard
rough
powerful
intense
stern
severe
scathing
exquisite
violent
fierce
strong
savage
forceful
irritating
forcible
ungentle
rugged
grim
stiff
roughened
rude
gruff
oppressive
pitiless
tyrannical
heavy-handed
roughening
tyrannic
abrading

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of bland are diplomatic, politic, smooth, suave, and urbane. While all these words mean "pleasantly tactful and well-mannered," bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities.

a bland master of ceremonies

The meanings of diplomatic and bland largely overlap; however, diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully.

a diplomatic negotiator

Although the words politic and bland have much in common, politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people.

a cunningly politic manager

The synonyms smooth and bland are sometimes interchangeable, but smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity.

a smooth salesman

While in some cases nearly identical to bland, suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction.

a suave public relations coordinator

While the synonyms urbane and bland are close in meaning, urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience.

an urbane traveler

单词	bland
释义	bland adjective ˈbland 1 a : 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 2 a : 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 blandly ˈblan(d)-lē adverb blandness ˈblan(d)-nəs noun Synonyms balmy benign delicate gentle light mellow mild nonabrasive soft soothing tender See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences The vegetable soup was rather bland. The diplomat's bland statement did nothing to calm the situation. Recent Examples on the Web The irony to me, and to many, is that networks have destroyed themselves with really bland, cookie-cutting programing over the years and people turned them off more and more. Travis M. Andrews, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 So many athletes now are bland and guarded about their lives, their opinions — about everything, really. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 29 Aug. 2022 Press appearances are more limited and tightly controlled, and athletes heavily coached on how to remain bland no matter the line of questioning. Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Aug. 2022 According to the conventional wisdom, real white culture — WASP-y amusements like golf, buffet dining and classical music — is comically bland. Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2022 Moment-to-moment combat and driving sequences feel bland. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 22 Aug. 2022 Davis was an amazing Harvard heel in Legally Blonde, but the script borings him into a nice (and bland) guy, with way too big a role in Anne Marie's journey to Pipeline. Darren Franich, EW.com, 17 Aug. 2022 My goal is for all the products that come in contact with my skin to be bland and mild and contain as few ingredients as possible. Beth Krietsch, SELF, 17 Aug. 2022 Even a bland name, however, might not immunize the WHO against blowback. Benjamin Mazer, The Atlantic, 17 Aug. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Latin blandus First Known Use 1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Kids Definition bland adjective ˈbland blander; blandest 1 : not interesting or exciting a bland story 2 : not having much flavor a bland soup 3 : not showing emotion a bland face bland adjective as in soothing not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect bland food that was good for babies and invalids Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance soothing gentle soft mellow mild benign light quiet smooth delicate serene tender placid peaceful balmy tranquil calm nonabrasive easy pacific sleek slick compassionate clement merciful lenient softening emollient cushioning buffering Antonyms & Near Antonyms harsh coarse caustic abrasive hard rough powerful intense stern severe scathing exquisite violent fierce strong savage forceful irritating forcible ungentle rugged grim stiff roughened rude gruff oppressive pitiless tyrannical heavy-handed roughening tyrannic abrading See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of bland are diplomatic, politic, smooth, suave, and urbane. While all these words mean "pleasantly tactful and well-mannered," bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities. a bland master of ceremonies The meanings of diplomatic and bland largely overlap; however, diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully. a diplomatic negotiator Although the words politic and bland have much in common, politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people. a cunningly politic manager The synonyms smooth and bland are sometimes interchangeable, but smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity. a smooth salesman While in some cases nearly identical to bland, suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction. a suave public relations coordinator While the synonyms urbane and bland are close in meaning, urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience. an urbane traveler
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bland

adjective

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser