stale
9 synonyms and 1 antonym for stale, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — No longer fresh; dried out or gone off, especially food or drink.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use stale
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
stale bread
stale joke
grow stale
stale air
Etymology
It comes from Middle English stale, from Old French estal (“fixed position, place”), though it probably traces back to Proto-Germanic *stāną (“to stand”); compare West Flemish stel, used in the same sense for ‘beer’ and ‘urine’.
Full origin of stale →Frequently asked questions
What does “stale” mean?
The word “stale” means no longer fresh; dried out or gone off, especially food or drink. In plain terms, past its best — food that has dried out, or an idea, joke, or routine that has been repeated too many times.
How do you pronounce “stale”?
“Stale” is pronounced stayl (/steɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “stale” in a sentence?
Here is “stale” used in a sentence: “The bread had gone stale after sitting out overnight.”
What is another word for “stale”?
Words with a similar meaning to “stale” include handle, haft, helve, shaft, snath and the shaft of a scythe.
What is the opposite of “stale”?
The opposite of “stale” — its antonyms — is fresh.
What part of speech is “stale”?
Depending on how it is used, “stale” can be an adjective and a verb.
Is “stale” a common word?
“Stale” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “stale” have?
“Stale” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: no longer fresh; dried out or gone off, especially food or drink.
