staleness

S1T1A1L1E1N1E1S1S1

noun

The state or quality of being stale.

Similar
triteness
Opposite
freshness
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Meanings

nounstaleness (countable and uncountable, plural stalenesses)

plural stalenesses

  1. uncountableThe state or quality of being stale.

    James Bond suddenly knew that he was tired. He always knew when his body or his mind had had enough and he always acted on the knowledge. This helped him to avoid staleness and the sensual bluntness that breeds mistakes.

    1953, Ian Fleming, “The Secret Agent”, in Casino Royale, London: Pan Books, published 1955, page 7
  2. countableThe result or product of being stale.

Synonyms & antonyms

noununoriginality as a result of being dull and hackneyed

Similar
triteness
Broader
unoriginality

nounhaving lost purity and freshness as a consequence of aging

Opposite
freshness
Broader
oldness
Also see
triteness

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From stale + -ness.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

leastness
Cite this entry
APA

staleness. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/staleness

MLA

“staleness.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/staleness. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “staleness,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/staleness.

Source: staleness on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.