trite

American  

[trahyt] / traɪt /

adjective

triter, tritest

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.

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trite British  

/ traɪt /

adjective

1. hackneyed; dull

   a trite comment

2. archaic frayed or worn out

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Usage

What does trite mean? Trite describes something as being boring or ineffective because it is used so much, as in All politicians seem to make the same trite promises to be honest.Something that is trite is stale and worn out. It’s most often used to criticize or insult someone’s speech or writing ability.Example: This lecture kept going in circles and was so trite.

Related Words

See commonplace.

Other Word Forms

• tritely adverb
• triteness noun
• untrite adjective
• untritely adverb
• untriteness noun

Etymology

Origin of trite

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

Example Sentences

I don’t mean to sound trite or wilfully glib, but it’s merely the truth that every ending is followed by a beginning.

From Salon

It may sound trite, but this can save a life.

From Los Angeles Times

Which brings us to the primary, indeed only, reason to revisit this dated and fundamentally trite show: the music.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Guadagnino also indulges a couple of speeches about young people’s alleged hypersensitivity that veer into trite middle-aged lament and aren’t really relevant to the action.

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s a gag that’s funny five times and trite by the sixth, only to round back toward something warm and amiable by the final time it appears.

From Salon

Related Words

• banal
• corny
• dull
• hackneyed