Skip to main content
nondescript

nondescript

17 7.1
Not having special or interesting features so it does not stand out
  • adjective
  • /ˌnɒndɪˈskrɪpt/
translation icon : anodino
  • The restaurant is located in a nondescript building that blends in with the other shops on the street.
  • small and nondescript

No, no, it's like in a little just nondescript room.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • A person dressed in nondescript clothing sat in one of the chairs.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • It was a pretty nondescript joint, a rather drab room in a rather drab old hotel.

  • We could have hundreds of sites, maybe even thousands, all under some nondescript name?

  • Come on, this guy is totally nondescript.

  • We're going to a small nondescript house somewhere in the countryside, correct?

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The radio was playing one of those nondescript songs, good music for country dancing, not too memorable beyond that.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • But the most powerful place in all of D.C. was a nondescript conference room at a relatively new think tank called Americans for Tax Reform.

  • The group stopped at a nondescript eatery for one last decent meal before the long ride to Arabel.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The room was large, nondescript, filled with maybe thirty or forty stainless-steel tables and chairs.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Edward Page's office was located in a nondescript low-rise office building opposite the Arlington County Circuit Court building.

    Fiction book (1997)

Synonyms

dull
vsnondescript
182 1.3

Not interesting or lively

adds that it specifically also lacks distinctive notable features
faceless
vsnondescript
38 5.9

A person or place with no features that make it stand out

highlights lack of interest and notable qualities rather than anonymity
bland
vsnondescript
31 2.8

A thing that has no strong character and few interesting features

covers a wider sense of plainness beyond mild or weak traits
lackluster
vsnondescript
  • US
30 6.1

Dull and showing little energy

also implies absence of distinctive or interesting identifying qualities
neutral
vsnondescript
24 3.5

Not having strong or noticeable qualities

is seen as more negative, meaning dull sameness rather than plain absence
drab
vsnondescript
23 4.2

Not bright or colorful and not lively

focuses more on overall lack of interest and distinguishing traits
sterile
vsnondescript
23 6.2

Not showing new ideas or creative thinking

is broader and simply means plain and lacking distinct appeal
uninteresting
vsnondescript
20 1.4

Not exciting and likely to make people bored

also highlights absence of distinguishing features beyond mere boredom
unremarkable
vsnondescript
20 3.5

Being ordinary and not interesting

places more emphasis on being plain and lacking distinct qualities
lifeless
vsnondescript
19 3.6

Without energy or interest and making people feel bored

stresses absence of distinctive or interesting traits beyond energy lack
uninspired
vsnondescript
14 4.0

Not having new or interesting ideas

focuses more on plain unremarkability than just missing creativity
monotonous
vsnondescript
14 5.3

Something that is boring because it has no variety

covers lack of distinctive or interesting features beyond repetition
unimpressive
vsnondescript
9 3.9

Not very good or likely to attract attention

focuses on being plain and not notable rather than low impact
prosaic
vsnondescript
8 7.9

Ordinary and dull without imagination or excitement

highlights lack of distinctive features and general plainness instead
featureless
vsnondescript
8 5.8

A place or thing that has no clear details

describes broader plainness beyond mere physical lack of marks
uninspiring
vsnondescript
7 3.5

Not interesting or exciting

points more to absence of notable or distinguishing characteristics
unadorned
vsnondescript
6 5.1

Plain in appearance with no decoration

also implies absence of interesting or distinguishing qualities beyond decoration
undistinguished
vsnondescript
5 5.4

A person or thing that has no special quality

emphasizes overall plainness and lack of interesting qualities instead
colorless
vsnondescript
  • US
4 3.9

Not interesting or exciting

stresses lack of distinguishing or notable qualities rather than only color
unspectacular
vsnondescript
3 4.1

Ordinary and not very impressive

is centered on plainness and lack of notable qualities rather than show
unexciting
vsnondescript
3 3.2

Not interesting or exciting

emphasizes lack of notable or distinguishing qualities beyond low thrill
nothing spectacular
vsnondescript
1 3.4

Not very impressive or special

focuses more on being plain and lacking distinctive qualities overall
characterless
vsnondescript
1 5.8

Having nothing special or interesting

focuses instead on being plain and not interesting rather than identity
unimposing
vsnondescript
1 6.1

Not attracting attention because it looks plain or simple

leans more toward plainness and lack of interesting features
pictureless
vsnondescript
1 6.5

Looks plain and not attractive

describes general lack of notable features beyond just visual appeal
textureless
vsnondescript
1 6.3

With a smooth, even surface and no rough or visible detail

applies lack of distinctive qualities to character, not only surface feel
unembellished
vsnondescript
1 5.8

Plain and simple in appearance without extra decoration

extends plainness to character, meaning generally not interesting or special
unostentatious
vsnondescript
1 7.8

Simple and modest in style and not trying to attract attention

leans toward being plain and not attention grabbing in general
unflashy
vsnondescript
1 4.4

Simple in style and not trying to attract attention

often adds lack of interest or distinguishing qualities beyond modesty
styleless
vsnondescript
1 6.0

Having a plain look that is not fashionable

indicates broader absence of notable features rather than only fashion
nondistinctive
vsnondescript
6.1

Not having features that make it stand out

focuses more on being plain and uninteresting rather than recognizability
undistinctive
vsnondescript
5.6

Lacking special features that make it stand out

emphasizes general plainness and lack of interest rather than only uniqueness
undistinguishing
vsnondescript
8.0

Without features that make it different from others

speaks more to not being notable or interesting than identification
typeless
vsnondescript
7.5

Not having a strong style or special features and seeming bland

stresses being plain and not special rather than merely generic
dullish
vsnondescript
3.7

Not bright in color and not very interesting

is fully plain and lacks clear distinguishing qualities
figureless
vsnondescript
7.2

Plain material like fabric or wallpaper without a pattern

extends the plainness idea to being generally uninteresting overall
glamourless
vsnondescript
5.5

Looks plain and not attractive or exciting

is more general, pointing to lack of distinctive or striking qualities
unfancied
vsnondescript
5.5

Has a plain, simple style and is not expensive

conveys lack of notable features and overall plainness beyond style
unornamented
vsnondescript
6.7

Plain and not decorated, like a simple room or building

applies plainness to overall interest and distinctiveness as well

Antonyms

588 2.8

Unusual and easy to notice because it is different or surprising

104 3.9

Has a clear look or sound that makes it different from others

How Distinctive

ordinary
683 1.0
nondescript
17 7.1
bland
31 2.8
featureless
8 5.8

Surface Forms

nondescript positive

Morphology

nondescript = descript (semi-transparent) = non + descript

The meaning 'not describable' follows from non- + descript, but 'descript' is rare in isolation so learners may not fully recognise the base.

Etymology

The word nondescript comes from non- meaning 'not' and descript from describe meaning 'to say what something is like'. So a nondescript thing is literally 'not easy to describe', which is why it seems dull or does not stand out.