trite

[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.
2.
characterized by hackneyed expressions, ideas, etc.:
The commencement address was trite and endlessly long.
3.
Archaic. rubbed or worn by use.
Origin
1540-50; < Latin trītus worn, common, equivalent to trī- (variant stem of terere to rub, wear down) + -tus past participle suffix
Related forms
tritely, adverb
triteness, noun
untrite, adjective
untritely, adverb
untriteness, noun
Synonyms
1. ordinary. See commonplace.
Antonyms
1. original.
Examples from the web for trite
  • Our trite, repeated lines order the world too, but only by flattening it.
  • Comparisons with developed and developing nations are trite and inappropriate.
  • But there he was in that trite pose, feet in the air, as if arranged on the sink top for her to find him.
  • The plot was trite, more an extended greeting card than a story.
  • Jokes and riddles were added to the seed catalogs, but the jokes were obvious and trite.
  • Under the first scratch of the surface the topic of network cables appears to be trite.
  • It is tedious, trite, and its rich source material is wasted.
British Dictionary definitions for trite

trite

/traɪt/
adjective
1.
hackneyed; dull: a trite comment
2.
(archaic) frayed or worn out
Derived Forms
tritely, adverb
triteness, noun
Word Origin
C16: from Latin trītus worn down, from terere to rub
Word Origin and History for trite
adj.

1540s, from Latin tritus "worn, familiar," from past participle of terere "to rub, wear down" (see throw (v.)).