continuing for a long time; extended beyond the usual length
He suffered from a prolonged illness that kept him out of work.
The meeting ended after a prolonged discussion.
thinking about or guessing possible outcomes without firm evidence
People are speculating about the reasons for his sudden resignation.
She spent hours speculating on what the message could mean.
lacking strong flavor, emotion, or interest
The soup was too bland and needed more seasoning.
His speech was polite but bland—it didn’t inspire anyone.
having a strong, sharp smell or taste; often overwhelming
The kitchen was filled with the pungent aroma of garlic and spices.
Her comment was as pungent as it was honest.
pleasant to taste or acceptable to someone
The meal was surprisingly palatable for airplane food.
His proposal wasn't perfect, but it was palatable to most of the team.
