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Stale Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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stale

[steษชl ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

food

no longer fresh and therefore unpleasant to eat

Synonyms

old, rancid, spoiled.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
stale

When something, usually food like bread or cake, is no longer fresh but not necessarily harmful to consume.

  • The bread has become stale after being left out for a week.
  • I threw away the stale cookies because they were hard and tasteless.
old

Refers to something that has been around for a long time. It can describe objects, people, or concepts.

  • He loves listening to old music records from the 80s.
  • The old building on the corner is set to be demolished next month.
rancid

When oils or fat-containing foods have gone bad, giving off a strong, unpleasant smell and taste.

  • The butter has turned rancid after being left out in the heat.
  • You should throw away that rancid oil; it's not safe to use.
spoiled

Describes food that has gone bad and is no longer safe to eat. Can also refer to a person who receives everything they want, often leading to negative behavior.

  • The milk is spoiled; it smells sour.
  • The fruit in the basket has spoiled and needs to be thrown away.
  • The child is so spoiled that he throws a tantrum whenever he doesn't get his way.

Examples of usage

  • The bread was stale so I had to throw it away.
  • The chips had gone stale after being left out all night.
Context #2 | Adjective

ideas

lacking originality or freshness; predictable

Synonyms

boring, tired, unoriginal.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
stale

To describe food or a situation that has lost freshness or vitality.

  • The bread is stale
  • The show has become quite stale after running for ten years
boring

When something lacks excitement or interest.

  • The lecture was so boring that I almost fell asleep
  • The movie was boring; it had no action or interesting plot
unoriginal

When something lacks originality or creativity.

  • Her idea was unoriginal and seemed copied from an old project
  • The script was unoriginal and full of clichรฉs
tired

To describe something that is overused or lacking in energy and freshness. It can also describe physical or mental exhaustion.

  • His excuse is getting old and tired
  • After a long day at work, I feel very tired

Examples of usage

  • His jokes are getting stale, he needs some new material.
  • The movie's plot felt stale and clichรฉd.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'stale'

The word 'stale' originated from the Old English word 'stal' which meant 'placed, set, fixed'. Over time, it evolved to refer to something that is no longer fresh or new. The concept of staleness can be applied to various aspects of life, from food to ideas, indicating a lack of freshness or originality.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #12,513, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.