stale
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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Like skinny jeans, they eventually became unavoidable — and thus a bit stale, giving way to looser fits and bulkier “dad” sneakers.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026
She added: "The room itself was swarming with moth-type creatures and the smell of stale and animal excrement was overwhelming."
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
While filmed performances are usually stale, the movie has long struck me, as a professional ballet dancer who discovered “Invitation” in college, as an example of how cinema and dance can be memorably combined.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Back in New Jersey, dinnertime with his biological family feels as cold and stale as their meal of frozen peas and store-bought white bread.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
But Anya wasn’t prepared for what actually met her when the door swung open, eerily silent on its hinges, blowing a gust of stale cavern air over them as they stood in the doorway.
From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack
The debate over whether pineapple belongs on pizza is staler than a three-day-old Domino’s slice.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 31, 2022
They're the perfect base for this croissant bread pudding and in fact, the staler, the better.
From Salon ● Mar. 23, 2022
“Under the Silver Lake” is rarely uninteresting, but it smells a little staler than it should.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 2019
Don’t be fooled by the fancy packaging, though: Rarely in the history of Broadway has a bigger, staler nothingburger been served up than “Pretty Woman.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2018
And the longer they lingered, the staler grew the scent.
From Lives of the Fur Folk by M. D. Haviland
The stalest reality show becomes, in her telling, a Talmudic feat: “There is a tribunal of scholars who teaches them how to sing!” she tells Shulem breathlessly.
From The New Yorker ● Apr. 14, 2019
Luckily, so expert is Firth’s timing—like that of Emma Thompson, as Bridget’s obstetrician—that laughs, often of the rueful variety, can be conjured in the stalest scenes.
From The New Yorker ● Sep. 16, 2016
That old-as-the-Rialto story line is — bear with me — what’s new in this “Shuffle Along,” the part written by Mr. Wolfe, and it’s what feels stalest.
From New York Times ● Apr. 28, 2016
When you compete in a multiplayer shooter and you are at a disadvantage until you unlock better weapons; that's the stalest of crust.
From The Verge ● Oct. 28, 2015
Why, great Scott, Ellins," goes on Megrue enthusiastic, "don't you know that buried treasure stuff is the stalest kind of tourist bait in use on the whole Florida coast?
From Wilt Thou Torchy by Sewell Ford
Traditionally, sourdough or challah that has staled a bit is used for French toast.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 25, 2022
As it staled, I toasted pieces under the broiler and dipped these into runny egg yolks.
From New York Times ● Feb. 7, 2022
Hers features an any-nut frangipane you can slather onto staled panettone, croissants, brioche or even white bread and top with your choice of nuts and fruit.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 20, 2021
The clerk’s disinterest practically staled the air, their voice over the speaker the droning whine of a giant, bored nose.
From Slate ● May 29, 2018
If the Preacher really had staled Mr. Leroy’s money, seemed to me like he’d try to make hisself real hard.
From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis
"The inclusion of legume flours slows staling associated with gluten-free breads due to the resistant starch content of legumes," said Lowe.
From Salon ● Feb. 8, 2022
Toasting had preserved the flavor, while staling had not.
From Salon ● Nov. 6, 2021
And from a wise Italian nonna, Antonietta Fazone, I learned that toasting bread, versus staling it on the counter overnight, it is preferable for preserving its flavor.
From Salon ● Nov. 6, 2021
The retrogradation of wheat starch in bread is responsible for staling.
From New York Times ● Aug. 6, 2016
‘Maister, maister, he’s staling t’ lanthern!’ shouted the ancient, pursuing my retreat.
From Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Vocabulary lists containing stale
Purple Hibiscus
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Life As We Knew It
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The Magician's Nephew
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