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View synonyms for bland

bland

1

[ bland ]

adjective

, bland·er, bland·est.
  1. pleasantly gentle or agreeable:

    a bland, affable manner.

    Synonyms: urbane, suave, amiable, mild, affable

    Antonyms: boorish, cruel

  2. soothing or balmy, as air:

    a bland southern breeze.

    Synonyms: mild, soft

    Antonyms: harsh

  3. nonirritating, as food or medicines:

    a bland diet.

    Synonyms: mild, soft

    Antonyms: irritating

  4. not highly flavored; mild; tasteless:

    a bland sauce.

  5. lacking in special interest, liveliness, individuality, etc.; insipid; dull:

    a bland young man; a bland situation comedy.

  6. unemotional, indifferent, or casual:

    his bland acknowledgment of guilt.



Bland

2

[ bland ]

noun

  1. James A(llen), 1854–1911, U.S. songwriter and minstrel performer.

bland

/ blænd /

adjective

  1. devoid of any distinctive or stimulating characteristics; uninteresting; dull

    bland food

  2. gentle and agreeable; suave
  3. (of the weather) mild and soothing
  4. unemotional or unmoved

    a bland account of atrocities



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Derived Forms

  • ˈblandness, noun
  • ˈblandly, adverb

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Other Words From

  • blandly adverb
  • blandness noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of bland1

First recorded in 1590–1600, bland is from the Latin word blandus of a smooth tongue, pleasant, soothing

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Word History and Origins

Origin of bland1

C15: from Latin blandus flattering

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Example Sentences

Known to be bland with a subtle taste of asparagus, cicadas have long been consumed across cultures.

From Vox

It’s bland by design, a rundown of who can do what and when.

From Time

If your childhood palate was heavily shaped by precision-engineered processed food, simpler, blander midcentury classics are almost a relief.

From Eater

What sells the entire experience is iOS 14, a software update that brings marked improvements to the bland grid of app icons that have dominated the iPhone’s display since the beginning.

From Time

At times I found myself laughing at the bland dialogue, and once audibly groaned when a character’s last ditch effort to take down the Galactic Empire involved—you guessed it—flying through a tiny corridor to shoot some missiles into a hole.

From Time

The Butterbrief, issued by Pope Innocent VIII, was a turning point for the then bland Stollen, which gradually became sweeter.

Because holy hell was that bland, unfunny, uncomfortable, and just plain confusing.

He is the drone official, the bland-faced human-resources manager tasked with dropping the axe.

Head of State was prescient, but hollow; I Think I Love My Wife was bland; and the documentary Good Hair was fascinating fun.

Despite the equal-parts bland and painful dialogue, the game still looks interesting.

Therefore, Bland concluded that Parliament technically had no jurisdiction over the American colonies.

"Perhaps your ladyship can persuade Lady Hartledon to exert herself," suggested the bland doctor.

The King, on his return from the Continent, found his subjects in no bland humour.

Ovid looked a bit doubtful, but Scattergood's voice was so interested, so bland, that any suspicion of irony was allayed.

As soon as they are whipped they make off to wives and home, and meet the scouts with a bland smile and outstretched hand.

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Blanco-FombonaBland-Allison Act