Words / C2

plat-i-TYOOD-in-uh-s/ˌplætɪˈtjuːdɪnəs/

Platitudinous means full of dull, overused remarks; speaking in platitudes (formal / disapproving): a platitudinous speech, platitudinous advice. A platitude (already in the dictionary) is the tired empty remark — the noun. Trite, hackneyed, and banal (already in the dictionary) are stale from overuse; a cliché (already in the dictionary) is an overused phrase. “Try harder” is not a sampling frame.

Meaning

Full of dull, overused remarks; speaking in platitudes (formal / disapproving).

Examples

• “A platitudinous “just try harder” is not a sampling frame.”
• “A platitude is a tired empty remark (already in C2). Trite is stale from overuse (already in C2). Hackneyed is worn out by overuse (already in C2). Banal is dull and overused (already in C1). A cliché is an overused phrase (already in C1). A short true sentence can still be plain. A motto that never states the frame is branding. Write the method; leave the proverb.”

Good to know

Full of tired empty remarks. Noun: platitude (already in C2). Close: trite / hackneyed (already in C2); banal / cliché (already in C1). A motto ≠ a frame.

Near in meaning

trite, banal, hackneyed, clichéd

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