trite

adjective

ˈtrīt 

triter; tritest

: hackneyed or boring from much use : not fresh or original

tritely adverb

triteness noun

Synonyms

• banal
• cliché
• cliche
• clichéd
• cobwebby
• commonplace
• hack
• hackney
• hackneyed
• moth-eaten
• musty
• obligatory
• shopworn
• stale
• stereotyped
• threadbare
• timeworn
• tired
• well-worn

Choose the Right Synonym for trite

trite, hackneyed, stereotyped, threadbare mean lacking the freshness that evokes attention or interest.

trite applies to a once effective phrase or idea spoiled from long familiarity.

"you win some, you lose some" is a trite expression

hackneyed stresses being worn out by overuse so as to become dull and meaningless.

all of the metaphors and images in the poem are hackneyed

stereotyped implies falling invariably into the same pattern or form.

views of minorities that are stereotyped and out-of-date

threadbare applies to what has been used until its possibilities of interest have been totally exhausted.

a mystery novel with a threadbare plot

Examples of trite in a Sentence

The wrong sort of built environment, she argued, wrecked the social fabric of cities. This view seems almost trite today, but in the 1960's it was insurgent. —Robert Kuttner, New York Times Book Review, 12 Mar. 2000

Experts are always unique (their tritest pronouncements are packaged as news) … —Wendy Kaminer, New York Times Book Review, 11 Feb. 1990

Its wares are soiled with frequent handling; its styles are so hackneyed, trite, and homogeneous, they constitute a single style … —Joyce Carol Oates, The Profane Art, 1983

That argument has become trite.

the speaker offered disappointingly trite sentiments about embracing each challenge as an opportunity

Recent Examples on the Web

The decision has been made, but the company owes more to St. Paul than a few transparently trite statements. —Letter Writers, Twin Cities, 12 May 2024

Presented with this connection to the film, McQueen, who is not keen on trite interpretations, partly swatted it away. —Siddhartha Mitter, New York Times, 10 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin tritus, from past participle of terere to rub, wear away — more at throw entry 1

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

trite

adjective

ˈtrīt 

triter; tritest

: so common that the newness or cleverness has worn off

a trite remark

tritely adverb

triteness noun