stale

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

These stocks are like stale food on a grocery shelf with a big discount sticker: cheap for a reason.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

Most comedies plummet halfway through their second act, when the jokes get stale, and studios demand some kind of emotional stakes.

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

The tune hung empty over my ears; the words tasted stale in my mouth.

From "The Rock and the River" by Kekla Magoon

The debate over whether pineapple belongs on pizza is staler than a three-day-old Domino’s slice.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 31, 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

A mere clever conceit isn’t enough, and here, the action smells stale and the humor staler.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2015

The warmer the weather, and the staler killed the meat is, the less time it will require to roast it.

From The Cook's Oracle; and Housekeeper's Manual by William Kitchiner

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

This programme was, of course, by now a newspaper commonplace of the stalest sort.

From Marcella by Mrs. Humphry Ward

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

The books have lain at your dispatchful brother's a 12 months, to the great staling of most of the subjects.

From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 5 The Letters of Charles and Mary Lamb, 1796-1820 by E. V. (Edward Verrall) Lucas