staler

Adjective

stale (comparative staler or more stale, superlative stalest or most stale)

1. No longer fresh, in reference to food, urine, straw, wounds, etc.
   • Near-synonyms: gone bad, spoiled; see also Thesaurus:rotten

   Synonyms:

   fusty, gone bad, spoiled, bad, gone off, maggoted, rotten

2. No longer fresh, new, or interesting, in reference to ideas and immaterial things; clichéd, hackneyed, dated.
   • Better is...be it new or stale, A harmelesse lie, than a harmefull true tale.1562, Proverbs & Epigrams, J. Heywood, published 1867, section 95

   Synonyms:

   banal, played out, trite, bathetic, bromidic, cheesy, stock, clichéd, commonplace, corny

3. (usually) Not new or recent; having been in place or in effect for some time.
   • In most states, you can be ticketed for failing to clear the intersection, even if you are hemmed in by traffic. One good clue to a stale green light is the pedestrian signal.2014, David L. Hough, Street Strategies for Motorcyclists

   Synonyms:

   antediluvian, eldern, venerable, ancient, aged, age-old, auld, cobwebbed, cobwebby, decrepit

4. Unreasonably long in coming, in reference to claims and actions.
   • a stale affidavit
5. Worn out, particularly due to age or over-exertion, in reference to athletes and animals in competition.
   • By this means the [horse's] legs are not made more stale than necessary.1856, “Stonehenge”, in Manual of British Rural Sports, II i vi §7 335

   Synonyms:

   clapped out, decrepit, passé, damaged, defective, deteriorated, dilapidated, effete, faulty, munted

6. Out of date, unpaid for an unreasonable amount of time, particularly in reference to checks.
   • Stale cheque,...a cheque which has remained unpaid for some considerable time.1901, Business Terms & Phrases, second edition, 199

See all 39 meanings of stale