Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective trite differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of trite are hackneyed, stereotyped, and threadbare. While all these words 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

When would hackneyed be a good substitute for trite?

While in some cases nearly identical to trite, 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

When might stereotyped be a better fit than trite?

The words stereotyped and trite are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stereotyped implies falling invariably into the same pattern or form.

views of minorities that are stereotyped and out-of-date

When could threadbare be used to replace trite?

The words threadbare and trite can be used in similar contexts, but threadbare applies to what has been used until its possibilities of interest have been totally exhausted.

a mystery novel with a threadbare plot

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of trite Perhaps the generative AI would simply sympathize with my plight and say something trite like don’t get down about needing help writing your code. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025 Such reminders that monstrosity is in the eye of the beholder could easily feel trite or forced, but Gunn capably balances them with a pitch-black sense of humor. Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024 The sheer exuberant maximalism of The Ferryman went a long way toward obscuring, even at times absolving, the show’s overdependence on some pretty trite types and twists. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024 Reporters are encouraged to steer clear of clichés year-round, as trite phrases lack originality and specificity. Mathew Brownstein, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for trite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trite
Adjective
  • Tragedies can be examined by those outside of its sphere of destruction, but the groundswell of feeling from Mexican viewers and critics is that there was little or no care taken to understand the cultural grief beyond stereotyped spectacle.
    Lucy Ford, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Founded by artists who grew up in Maryvale, Salcido said the purpose of Labor is to be the bridge that shows the artistic capacity and potential of Maryvale because the neighborhood is too often stereotyped, underrepresented and ignored.
    David Ulloa Jr, The Arizona Republic, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Absorb punches until Trump tires himself out or, more likely, the American people get tired of all the chaos and disruption.
    Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Selections from the trio’s synth-heavy mid-Eighties years sound sturdier than ever within the grand sweep of Rush 50, defying the tired rock-purist take that the trio strayed too far during this period.
    Hank Shteamer, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The movie’s a little more hackneyed and obvious now, but its central idea is still an undeniably creepy one: possessed children with pitchforks.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Which is a nauseatingly hackneyed and clichéd — not to mention stupefyingly reductive — type of statement to make about any kind of art or entertainment, of course.
    Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019

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Cite this Entry

“Trite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trite. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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