insipid

From French insipide, from Latin īnsipidus (“tasteless”), from in- (“not”) + sapidus (“savory”). In some senses, perhaps influenced by insipient (“unwise, foolish, stupid”).

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ɪnˈsɪp.ɪd/

• Audio (US):

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• Audio (General Australian):

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• Rhymes: -ɪpɪd

insipid (comparative more insipid, superlative most insipid)

1. Unappetizingly flavorless.

   Synonyms: tasteless, bland, vapid, wearish

   The diners were disappointed with the plain, insipid soup they were served.

   • 2025 June 11, Christian Wolmar, “First Class delights with an occasional pang of hunger”, in RAIL, number 1037, page 34:

     There was no limit on drinks, and the guy next to me tucked away a few G and Ts. I confined myself to a pleasant Brewdog Ale and a glass of slightly insipid wine.

2. Flat; lacking character or definition.

   Synonyms: boring, vacuous, dull, bland, vapid, characterless, colourless

   The textbook had a most insipid presentation of the controversy.

   • 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 42, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:

     If the secret history of books could be written, and the author’s private thoughts and meanings noted down alongside of his story, how many insipid volumes would become interesting, and dull tales excite the reader!

   • 2023 August 24, Sarah Naftalis & Lauren Wells, “The Roast” (8:36 from the start), in What We Do in the Shadows‎^[1], season 5, episode 8, spoken by Baron Afanas (Doug Jones):

     “Look at this festive assembly. All of us, gathered here together, chuckling at jokes and silliness.” [laughter] “And jackanapery.” [rim shots] “I guess there's only one thing left to say. What is this shit?” [rim shot] [laughter] “[laughs] Very good.” “You call yourselves vampires? Bah. This entire evening has been nothing but a pageant of insipid nonsense.” “[laughing] Yes.” “Worshipping at the altar of your own mediocre frivolity. A jester's hollow dance. And who is laughing?” “Yeah! [whoops] [grunts]” “Vampires are supposed to have blood orgies and slaughter circles. Gah! You have all gone soft. You even invited humans to this asinine affair.”

• insipient

• “insipid”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “insipid”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Borrowed from French insipide.

insipid m or n (feminine singular insipidă, masculine plural insipizi, feminine and neuter plural insipide)

1. insipid, tasteless

• insipiditate