Insipid
mediumNegative tonein-SIP-id
adjective
Definition
Lacking flavor, zest, or interest; dull and unengaging
Memory hook
IN-SIPID: NOT tasty (sapid) — bland, flavorless, and boring.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The insipid dialogue in the movie failed to capture the audience's attention.”
“Her insipid presentation lacked the creativity and energy needed to impress the committee.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The ______ dialogue in the movie failed to capture the audience's attention.”
Show answer
insipid
Categories
GRE Tip
Insipid is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "bland" or "vapid" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "piquant".
Related GRE Words
pedestrian
Lacking inspiration or excitement; dull
prosaic
Lacking poetic beauty; commonplace or dull
trite
Lacking originality or freshness; overused and no longer interesting
adulterate
To make something poorer in quality by adding another substance
connoisseur
An expert judge in matters of taste, especially in fine arts or food
efficacy
the power to produce a desired effect or result; effectiveness
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