banality
Dullness through overuse
Banality is the quality of being unoriginal, predictable, or tiresomely ordinary.
A banality is also a specific instance—a trite remark or obvious observation: He spoke in banalities about the weather and traffic.
The word often carries intellectual disdain, suggesting not just dullness but a failure of thought or imagination.
Overused and unoriginal
- overusedEmployed too frequently
- tiredLacking energy, needing rest
- worn-outDepleted through overuse
- unoriginalNot new or novel
derivative · triteness · bromide · shopworn · formulaic · threadbare · vapid · corny
Statement needing no proof
- bromideOverused phrase or chemical
- clicheOverused phrase or idea
- homilyReligious discourse on scripture
- chestnutOverused joke or edible nut
commonplace · saw · maxim · buzzword · slogan · catchphrase · pablum · inanity
Lacking variety or excitement
- quotidianOccurring every day
- workadayOrdinary, not special
- monotonousUnchangingly dull
- tediousBoring through length
dull · unremarkable · unexceptional · bland · dreary · ho-hum · sameness · grind
Regular sequence of actions
- expectedRegarded as likely
- foreseeableAble to be anticipated
- repetitiveMarked by recurrence
- unchangingNot varying at all
unvarying · sameness · uniformity · monotony · formulaic · by-the-numbers · cookie-cutter · paint-by-numbers
hackneyed
Overused and unoriginal
unoriginal · derivative · triteness · bromide · shopworn · formulaic · threadbare · vapid · corny · platitudinous
truism
Statement needing no proof
- bromideOverused phrase or chemical
- clicheOverused phrase or idea
- homilyReligious discourse on scripture
chestnut · commonplace · saw · maxim · buzzword · slogan · catchphrase · pablum · inanity
humdrum
Lacking variety or excitement
- quotidianOccurring every day
- workadayOrdinary, not special
- monotonousUnchangingly dull
tedious · dull · unremarkable · unexceptional · bland · dreary · ho-hum · sameness · grind · dreariness
routine
Regular sequence of actions
- expectedRegarded as likely
- foreseeableAble to be anticipated
- repetitiveMarked by recurrence
unchanging · unvarying · sameness · uniformity · monotony · formulaic · by-the-numbers · cookie-cutter · paint-by-numbers · boilerplate
- clichescliche, bromide, tired phrase, worn phrase, trite saying
- expressionsexpression, I love you, phrase, idioms, thank you
- sayingssayings, saying, proverb, proverbs, adage
- dullnessboring, boredom, monotony, dullness, mediocrity
- feudalismfief, vassal, fealty, homage, lord
- beliefsbelief, beliefs, creed, creeds, faith
banalityoriginality
Novel creative quality
novelty · freshness · innovation · inventiveness · creativity
banalityprofundity
Intellectual or emotional depth
depth · insight · profoundness · wisdom · nuance
banalitywitticism
Clever, amusing remark
epigram · brilliance · cleverness · bon mot · wit
- banality of evilMonstrous acts by ordinary people