Trite

/traɪt/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

lacking originality or freshness; dull on account of overuse.

The movie was criticized for its trite dialogue and predictable plot twists.

overused and therefore lacking in interest or value.

Her speech was filled with trite sayings that offered no new insights.

commonplace or hackneyed; not interesting or effective anymore.

The concept of 'love conquers all' has become a trite theme in romance novels.

From Latin 'tritus', meaning 'worn, rubbed' or 'used up'.

trite saying

A phrase that is overused and lacks originality.

banal

So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring.

cliché

An idea or phrase that has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning.

Old news

That idea is just old news, nobody cares.

Played out

That joke is really played out; I've heard it too many times.