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

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

A Black South African with a global view in a field dominated by white Anglos and Americans focused on U.S. politics, Noah redefined one of TV’s most staid genres.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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