Word
trite
US/ˈtɹaɪt/
UK/tɹˈaɪt/
Definition
adj. describing something that is so common or overused that it has lost its original meaning or interest. You use this to talk about ideas, phrases, or stories that are no longer fresh.
adj. lacking originality or freshness; having become common or overused through excessive repetition. Often used to describe clichés, platitudes, or unoriginal arguments.
Examples
“The movie's plot is full of trite dialogue.”
“The lawyer's opening statement was criticized for being trite, as it relied on well-worn legal phrases rather than new evidence.”
“While the author's early work was praised for its originality, his later novels were dismissed as trite, failing to offer any new perspective on the classic themes of love and loss.”
Examples
simple
“The movie's plot is full of trite dialogue.”
contextual
“The lawyer's opening statement was criticized for being trite, as it relied on well-worn legal phrases rather than new evidence.”
complex
“While the author's early work was praised for its originality, his later novels were dismissed as trite, failing to offer any new perspective on the classic themes of love and loss.”
Real-World Examples
“It’s become a trite word to use about acting, but Moore’s work in the film is at times downright fearless.” “I’m not a fan of jokes at the expense of others, those that are trite and mean and racist.” Etymology
From Latin trītus (“worn out”), perfect passive participle of terō (“I wear away, wear out”).
Unadapted borrowing from Latin tritē, from Ancient Greek τρίτη (trítē, literally “third [string]”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/trite