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.

Synonym Usage

See commonplace.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of trite

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

Explanation

When you want to indicate that something is silly or overused, you would call it trite. A love song with lyrics about holding hands in the sunshine? Totally trite. Trite has a Latin root, the past participle of terere, meaning "wear out." An old-fashioned or outdated definition of the word is "frayed or worn out by use," and you can see how the meaning for an object that is worn out can be applied to an idea that has been used to the point of being meaningless. The antonym of this word is original.

Related Words

• banal
• corny
• dull
• hackneyed