Synonym Chooser

How is the word bland different from other adjectives like it?

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

When is diplomatic a more appropriate choice than bland?

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

a diplomatic negotiator

When could politic be used to replace bland?

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

Where would smooth be a reasonable alternative to bland?

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

a smooth salesman

When can suave be used instead of bland?

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

In what contexts can urbane take the place of bland?

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

an urbane traveler

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 bland Then, follow it up with a bland, gentle moisturizer free of exfoliating actives—this will help hydrate the skin, and protect against dryness. Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025 One was a perfectionist who gave performances of stunning power that sometimes became smoothed out and even bland through repetition; the other was full of surprises—always discovering things, a sensibility always in the making. David Denby, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025 The new Snow White represents progressive mediocrity — the antagonism between Snow White and her evil stepmother (Gal Gadot) is bland and uninteresting after the remarkable modern version White as Snow that starred Lou de Laâge and Isabelle Huppert. Armond White, National Review, 26 Mar. 2025 The whodunit's central mystery is also half-baked: the death of Wynter is as bland as Esposito's character is in flashbacks. Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bland
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bland
Adjective
  • Where to watch: Prime Video, Peacock Classical Baby For a more soothing musical option, try HBO’s ‘90s show Classical Baby.
    Kara Nesvig, Parents, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Speaking of Nancy Meyers and Steve Martin, there’s probably nothing more soothing than watching Meryl Streep cook in a gorgeous Santa Barbara kitchen.
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Momoa opted for softer style, wearing a suit in a gentle pink tone.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Creating friendly competitions transforms rote practice into engaging social experiences while maintaining the motivational benefits of gentle competition.
    Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • All while navigating the final stint on the soft tire for over 20 laps and keeping a surging Lando Norris behind him, not once losing his concentration.
    Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The women on board could soon be heard whooping in joy as three massive parachutes deployed after about nine minutes into the flight and the capsule made a soft landing two minutes later in the desert, sending up plumes of dust.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • An eight-month-old Gruyère is mellow with a caramel aroma.
    Betsy Andrews, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The Animal Collective member’s new album, Sinister Grift, is the perfect mellow psychedelia for a sunny Pasadena afternoon.
    Dan Reilly, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The adverse events were considered generally mild to moderate, according to the company, with upset stomach the most commonly reported.
    Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Note that there will be differences in heat levels and texture: Many brands make hot and mild varieties, and harissa can range from loose and sauce-like to thick and pasty.
    Sheela Prakash, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Inflation still remains a concern because the full impact of tariffs is yet to be felt, however, at least the underlying trends (e.g. non-tariff related inflation) seems benign at this time.
    Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
  • The hospital determined that five cases were benign brain tumors of three different types, and six cases were determined not to be brain tumors at all but other health concerns, according to the memo.
    Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bland.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bland. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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