clichéd

American  

[klee-sheyd, kli-] / kliˈʃeɪd, klɪ- /

adjective

1. full of or characterized by clichés.

   a clichéd, boring speech.

2. representing or expressing a cliché or stereotype; trite; hackneyed; commonplace.

   the old clichéd argument that girls are more affectionate than boys.

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Etymology

Origin of clichéd

First recorded in 1925–30; cliché ( def. ) + -ed ³

Explanation

When something is cliched, you've heard it a million times before — it's overused and unoriginal. Your English teacher might advise you to avoid cliched sayings in your essays. You'll know when a phrase is cliched, because it will sound extremely familiar. "Every cloud has a silver lining," "think outside the box," and "there are plenty of fish in the sea" are all cliched. These are fine to use in casual speech, or in an ironic way, but you shouldn't use them in formal writing. Many people mistakenly use the noun cliche as an adjective, instead of cliched.

Example Sentences

The Morelli sibs’ involvement gets more and more fruitlessly complicated, though Messrs. Ivanir and Kuzum get to stretch beyond what at first seem clichéd roles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

And yes, you best believe he is not singing any pop genre that an NYU sophomore would like, but instead treacly worship music with painfully clichéd lyrics.

From Salon • Jan. 12, 2026

This is contemporary sound to dispel clichéd fears of abrasive modernism while never cheaply pandering to mass appeal.

From New York Times • Nov. 15, 2024

Too often, he found, they relied on "clichéd", post-colonial motifs.

From BBC • Nov. 2, 2024

“I know, I sound like the world’s most clichéd teenager, but I’m dreading it.”

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro