insipid
- Lacking in flavor, vigor, or interest; dull and uninspiring.
- Lacking in character or personality; vapid.
In a sentence
- The insipid broth was barely distinguishable from hot water and offered little comfort to the patient.
- Critics dismissed the film as an insipid romantic comedy that offered no surprises and no genuine emotion.
Usage note. Insipid works well in both literal (food, drink) and figurative (art, conversation, personality) contexts, making it more versatile than 'vapid', which is generally restricted to figurative use.
Where it comes from
English insipid · entered English mid-17th c.
From Latin 'insipidus' (without taste), composed of 'in-' (not) and 'sapidus' (tasty, savory), from 'sapere' (to taste, to be wise). The word entered English in the mid-17th century, first applied literally to tasteless food and then extended metaphorically to persons or things that are dull or uninteresting.