nondescript
16
7.1
- adjective
- /ˌnɒndɪˈskrɪpt/
- The restaurant is located in a nondescript building that blends in with the other shops on the street.
- small and nondescript
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Watch on YouTubeNo, no, it's like in a little just nondescript room.
- No, no, it's like in a little just nondescript room.
- This thing is amazing and fortunately arrives in very nondescript packaging.
- Under open cases behind the runaway shelter were the other houses, intensely nondescript in the pale grey sky.
- It was a pretty nondescript joint, a rather drab room in a rather drab old hotel.
- It just was nondescript shape, which is interesting.
- This, this nondescript, you know, you know, target lamp, you know, it's a red lamp.
- And the FBI goes, Victor, there's so many murders past that nondescript.
- It is such a generic nondescript there.
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
169
1.3
Not interesting or lively
39
5.9
A person or place with no features that make it stand out
38
2.8
A thing that has no strong character and few interesting features
29
6.1
Dull and showing little energy
21
4.2
Not bright or colorful and not lively
20
3.5
Being ordinary and not interesting
19
1.4
Not exciting and likely to make people bored
18
5.3
Something that is boring because it has no variety
16
3.6
Without energy or interest and making people feel bored
16
6.2
Not showing new ideas or creative thinking
14
4.0
Not having new or interesting ideas
12
3.5
Not having strong or noticeable qualities
9
3.9
Not very good or likely to attract attention
8
5.8
A place or thing that has no clear details
8
7.9
Ordinary and dull without imagination or excitement
7
5.1
Plain in appearance with no decoration
6
3.5
Not interesting or exciting
5
5.4
A person or thing that has no special quality
4
3.9
Not interesting or exciting
3
3.4
Not very impressive or special
3
4.1
Ordinary and not very impressive
3
3.2
Not interesting or exciting
1
5.8
Having nothing special or interesting
1
6.1
Not attracting attention because it looks plain or simple
1
5.8
Plain and simple in appearance without extra decoration
1
7.8
Simple and modest in style and not trying to attract attention
1
6.3
With a smooth, even surface and no rough or visible detail
1
4.4
Simple in style and not trying to attract attention
1
6.0
Having a plain look that is not fashionable
1
6.7
Plain and not decorated, like a simple room or building
1
3.7
Not bright in color and not very interesting
1
8.0
Without features that make it different from others
1
6.1
Not having features that make it stand out
1
5.5
Looks plain and not attractive or exciting
1
5.6
Lacking special features that make it stand out
1
6.5
Looks plain and not attractive
Not having a strong style or special features and seeming bland
Plain material like fabric or wallpaper without a pattern
Has a plain, simple style and is not expensive
Antonyms
How Distinctive
Surface Forms
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.