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

Relevance

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
  • As people outsource more of their thinking to software, the business world grows more homogeneous, risk-averse, predictable and, frankly, boring.
    — David Farbman, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • My very boring father’s record collection suddenly came alive.
    — Kristin Robinson, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • The lineup is generally made up of Ikea’s signature neutral tones like pine, black, and white, and highlighted with pops of Xbox green.
    — Bee Wertheimer, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Piper Sandler upgrades Alerus Financial to overweight from neutral Piper says the regional bank has EPS upside.
    — Michael Bloom, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of neutral
Adjective
  • Colors are neutral and echo the surroundings rather than competing with them—stone-gray throw blankets and pillows, beige arm chairs, white walls–and artwork is at a minimum, maybe a tasteful landscape photograph in a simple black frame.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In the primary bedroom, creamy beige walls are painted in custom limewash by Lucas Willing Studios, contrasted by a dark vintage kilim from Rug & Kilim.
    — Keith Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of beige
Adjective
  • Lido House's boutique personality—an Autograph Collection signature—helps the hotel stand out from its neighbors—largely nondescript chains.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Exit 31 has a nondescript chain-link fence and grass that could use a trimming.
    — James Barron, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of nondescript
Adjective
  • Shooting in a widescreen format that gives ironic grandeur to a squat, featureless town in the Texas Panhandle, DP Peter Flinckenberg is attentive to the piercing, sometimes radiant winter light of the region in the harshest months of the year.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The metal underneath In their last experiment, the team built a plate that was quartz on two-thirds and copper on the other third, then coated the whole thing with a single uniform layer of Teflon that provided a featureless surface.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of featureless

Browse Nearby Words

vanguards
vanilla
vanish
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Vanilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vanilla. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on vanilla

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vanilla

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All