staid

1 of 2

adjective

: marked by settled sedateness and often prim self-restraint : sober, grave
staidly adverb
staidness noun

staid

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of stay

Choose the Right Synonym for staid

serious, grave, solemn, sedate, staid, sober, earnest mean not light or frivolous.

serious implies a concern for what really matters.

a serious play about social injustice

grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude.

read the proclamation in a grave voice

solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.

a sad and solemn occasion

sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness.

remained sedate amid the commotion

staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint.

a quiet and staid community

sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity.

a sober look at the state of our schools

earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

an earnest reformer

Examples of staid in a Sentence

Adjective a staid and solemn businessman everyone was surprised by the racy joke from the usually staid professor
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
But Wilson’s address was a profound, unprecedented, and welcome departure from the typical, staid, recitation of facts and figures. Steve Zeidman, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2025 The first is Teleprompter Trump, who reads a prepared speech and tends to be staid, sleepy, and insincere. Vox Staff, Vox, 23 Jan. 2025 The eight-sided building is a staid and proper classical structure at first glance, but a closer look reveals a lively romp through aquatic life in almost every stone, metal, glass and terra cotta detail, inside and out. Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025 What’s going to happen when two brides and their guests—one set consisting mostly of rowdy Gen Z-types, the other a more staid bunch decked out in tasteful navy blazers and flowery garden-party dresses—descend upon an island wedding venue that can barely handle half of them? Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 30 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for staid

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of stay entry 3

First Known Use

Adjective

1557, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of staid was in 1557

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Staid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/staid. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

staid

1 of 2 adjective
1
: not easily changed : settled, fixed
a staid opinion
2
a
: calm and serious in manner, attitude, or style
b
: not bold, bright, or showy
staid colors
staidly adverb
staidness noun

staid

2 of 2

past and past participle of stay

More from Merriam-Webster on staid

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