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Definition of staleness

staleness

/ˈsteɪl.nəs/
stale · ness
Adverb:stalely
•
Adjective:stale
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staleness Lexical Profile

staleness Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The state or quality of no longer being fresh, palatable, or wholesome, especially of food, drink, or air that has been kept or confined too long.

Example

"Opening the windows helped clear the staleness from the air in the long-closed cabin."

2

A lack of originality, vitality, or interest resulting from overuse, repetition, or monotony.

Example

"The director introduced several new actors to combat the growing staleness of the long-running television series."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for staleness

• Nearby Words

stalagmite
stale
stalemate
staleness
stalingrad
stalk
stalker

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English from the adjective 'stale' (likely from Old French 'estaler', meaning to come to a standstill or clear of sediment) combined with the native Old English noun-forming suffix '-ness'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Staleness. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/staleness
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