Hackneyed (Adjective)
Meaning
Repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse; "bromidic sermons"; "his remarks were trite and commonplace"; "hackneyed phrases"; "a stock answer"; "repeating threadbare jokes"; "parroting some timeworn axiom"; "the trite metaphor `hard as nails'".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The motivational speaker's presentation was full of hackneyed phrases that the audience had heard many times before.
- Her editor felt that the author's reliance on hackneyed descriptions made the writing feel unoriginal.
- After listening to his joke for the hundredth time, everyone in the office felt that the humor was starting to become hackneyed.
- Despite her good intentions, the coach's use of hackneyed metaphors and cliches often left her team feeling uninspired.
- By using a mix of unique observations and clever insights, the novelist avoided hackneyed character descriptions and crafted well-rounded individuals that felt genuine to the reader.