staid

[ steyd ]

adjective

1. of settled or sedate character; not flighty or capricious.

   Synonyms: solemn, decorous, serious, proper

   Antonyms: frivolous, wild

2. fixed, settled, or permanent.

verb

1. Archaic. a simple past tense and past participle of stay ¹.

staid

/ steɪd /

adjective

1. of a settled, sedate, and steady character
2. rare.
   permanent

Derived Forms

• ˈstaidness, noun
• ˈstaidly, adverb

Other Words From

• staidly adverb
• staidness noun
• un·staid adjective
• un·staidly adverb
• un·staidness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of staid¹

First recorded in 1535–45 for adjective use

Word History and Origins

Origin of staid¹

C16: obsolete past participle of stay ¹

Synonym Study

Staid, sedate, settled indicate a sober and composed type of conduct. Staid indicates an ingrained seriousness and propriety that shows itself in complete decorum; a colorless kind of correctness is indicated: a staid and uninteresting family. Sedate applies to one who is noticeably quiet, composed, and sober in conduct: a sedate and dignified young man. One who is settled has become fixed, especially in a sober or determined way, in manner, judgments, or mode of life: He is young to be so settled in his ways.

Example Sentences

His bold and at times brash style, rejecting the more staid political rhetoric of Nandi-Ndaitwah, has seen him win support among business people and the growing urban intelligentsia.

From BBC

Peake’s staid and knowing portrayal stands in contrast and complement to that of Petticrew, whose resolute manner vacillates between a flinty swagger and true anguish.

From Salon

But he has a consistent history of being a flamethrower in the staid halls of Congress.

From BBC

In the latest in a growing list of these particular moments, the typically staid and reserved Martha Stewart was clearly not thrilled by the close proximity and intimacy with which Barrymore conducted a recent interview.

From Salon

Leave it to Loewe’s Jonathan Anderson to take a staid loafer and make it surreal.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• decorous
• dignified
• sedate
• sober
• solemn
• somber
• stuffy