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

• ˈtriteness, noun
• ˈtritely, adverb

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 perhaps trite to say, that purpose and meaning are way more important than go-karting, free food, or recess.

From Outside Online

It’s almost trite at this point to note the decade-worth of digital and e-commerce transformation that’s enveloped the marketing world over the last 16 months since the pandemic started.

From Digiday

It might seem trite to say that in times of despair, we can look to the written word for solace.

From Time

Instead, Bly Manor ultimately seems to jettison all its carefully built characterizations in favor of a plot resolution that essentially happens completely offstage, to usher in an ending that feels hand-waved and trite.

From Vox

The game's rendering engine is incredibly beautiful, but the characters it renders are shallow, trite, and frequently downright hateful—and the storyline, at least for the first 15 hours, is pretty similar.

From Ars Technica

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

More About Trite

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.

Where does trite come from?

The first records of the term trite come from around 1540. It comes from the Latin trītus, meaning “worn or common.” Trite describes the figurative sense of a word’s usefulness being worn down.

Trite is usually used in reference to words, either written or spoken. However, it can also refer to other things, like a TV show that has had too many episodes. Describing someone’s speech as trite is sometimes a way to insult someone while sounding like helpful criticism and is rarely done with the speaker present—a good clue that it isn’t a nice thing to say.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to trite?

• tritely (adverb)
• triteness (noun)
• untrite (adjective)

What are some synonyms for trite?

• banal
• commonplace
• corny
• dull
• hackneyed

What are some words that often get used in discussing trite?

• comments
• ordinary
• boring
• speech

How is trite used in real life?

Trite is usually used as a criticism of something, such as a thought or speech.

"I can't believe you're reading fairytales."
"Why not? They're fun, and-"
"They're for children!"
"Well, yes, but not only for children."
"Full of clichés, and trite messages about being kind."
"I can tell you don't read fairytales."
"Obviously."
"Obviously."

— Micro SF/F stories (@MicroSFF) October 15, 2021

If it comes to your mind first, pause and take a deep breathe before you say it. Trust me. The trite comments are hurtful.

— Kelly Wickham Hurst (@mochamomma) September 11, 2013

I'm soooooo sick of trite identity politics.

Words can't fully explain how much I detest it.

— ZUBY: (@ZubyMusic) July 15, 2019

Try using trite!

Is trite used correctly in the following sentence?

I fell asleep during the presentation because it was boring and full of trite phrases.