trite

[ trahyt ]

adjective

, trit·er, trit·est.

1. lacking in freshness or effectiveness because of constant use or excessive repetition; hackneyed; stale:

   the trite phrases in his letter.

   Synonyms: ordinary

   Antonyms: original

2. characterized by hackneyed expressions, ideas, etc.:

   The commencement address was trite and endlessly long.

3. Archaic. rubbed or worn by use.

trite

/ traɪt /

adjective

1. hackneyed; dull

   a trite comment

2. archaic.
   frayed or worn out

Derived Forms

• ˈtritely, adverb
• ˈtriteness, noun

Other Words From

• tritely adverb
• triteness noun
• un·trite adjective
• un·tritely adverb
• un·triteness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of trite¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin trītus “worn, common,” past participle of terere “to rub, wear down”

Word History and Origins

Origin of trite¹

C16: from Latin trītus worn down, from terere to rub

Synonym Study

See commonplace.

Example Sentences

While a little long and a bit trite toward the end, it was exactly the creative change that Fashion Week needs.

From The Daily Beast

The things Lindsay shows Lohan doing should be trite and calming.

From The Daily Beast

Marriage is the best decision you can make; it sounds trite, but it really does complete a person, rounds you out.

From The Daily Beast

The Daily Pic: A watercolor shows how the great painter mixed the radical and the trite.

From The Daily Beast

Perhaps you are old-fashioned and have additional concerns that are a bit more naive, even trite.

From The Daily Beast

Half an inch taller than Kerry, she fully merited the compliment designed by that trite apothegm, "a fine woman."

From Project Gutenberg

Much like general terms, which mean something or nothing, are expressions that have become trite and hackneyed.

From Project Gutenberg

How stale and trite the fleet of a Magellan to the adventurous soul who would circumnavigate the archipelagoes of the dead!

From Project Gutenberg

It is trite to observe that democracies are organized—if, indeed, they are organized at all—not for war but for peace.

From Project Gutenberg

What need to burden memory with imaginary statements, or to weary out one's sympathies on trite fictitious woes?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• banal
• corny
• dull
• hackneyed