bland

C2+ Topic:Describing People

US /blænd/ UK /blænd/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like blonde /æ/ vs /ɑ/ Sounds like blond /æ/ vs /ɑ/

Meanings

1

adj
lacking strong flavour, interest, or distinctive character

The soup was bland and needed a generous pinch of salt.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · lacking strong flavour,... insipid tastelessflavourlessdull vapid nondescript mild

Opposites

spicy piquantflavourfulexciting stimulating

Word family

Forms blandly

Derived forms blandlyblandnessblandish

Related forms blandish blandishment

Etymology

From Latin blandus ('smooth, soft, caressing, flattering'), of uncertain further origin; the sense 'mild, dull' developed later in English.

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing People

External links

# bland

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /blænd/
**IPA (UK):** /blænd/

## Meanings
1. lacking strong flavour, interest, or distinctive character

## Examples
- The soup was bland and needed a generous pinch of salt.

## Synonyms
- insipid
- tasteless
- flavourless
- dull
- vapid
- nondescript
- mild

## Antonyms
- spicy
- piquant
- flavourful
- exciting
- stimulating

## Derived Forms
- blandly
- blandness
- blandish

## Related Forms
- blandish
- blandishment

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: blandus

## Etymology
From Latin blandus ('smooth, soft, caressing, flattering'), of uncertain further origin; the sense 'mild, dull' developed later in English.

## AI Etymology
Bland is from Latin blandus ('smooth, soft, caressing, flattering'), of uncertain further origin; the sense 'mild, dull' developed later in English. In present-day use, it means lacking strong flavour, interest, or distinctive character. Derived formations include blandly, blandness, and blandish. Related vocabulary includes blandish and blandishment.

## Topics
- Describing People

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