platitudes
Stale, hollow sayings
Platitudes are remarks that state the obvious or offer empty comfort—truisms so familiar they've lost any force: He offered the usual platitudes about time healing all wounds.
The word carries a dismissive edge; calling something a platitude suggests it's too worn to be meaningful, even if technically true.
Politicians and motivational speakers trade heavily in platitudes.
Overused phrase or idea
- bromideOverused phrase or chemical
- truismStatement needing no proof
- banalityTiresome lack of originality
- commonplaceUnremarkable and frequent
hackneyed · trite · worn-out · tired · stale · overused · threadbare · shopworn
Empty within
- vapidDull, without depth
- meaninglessLacking significance or purpose
- superficialLacking depth or substance
- emptyHolding nothing inside
shallow · insubstantial · vacuous · bland · insipid · thin · weightless · flimsy
Insincere expression of agreement
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
- glibSuperficially articulate
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
- perfunctoryDone with minimal effort
feigned · smarmy · smooth-talking · contrived · mechanical · going through motions · pro forma · obligatory
Comfort during distress
- reassuranceWords meant to calm
- soothingReducing distress or discomfort
- sympatheticFeeling others' emotions
- well-meaningSincerely trying to help
heartening · encouraging · uplifting · kind words · supportive · silver lining · blessing in disguise · meant to be
cliche
Overused phrase or idea
- bromideOverused phrase or chemical
- truismStatement needing no proof
- banalityTiresome lack of originality
commonplace · hackneyed · trite · worn-out · tired · stale · overused · threadbare · shopworn · old-hat
hollow
Empty within
- vapidDull, without depth
- meaninglessLacking significance or purpose
- superficialLacking depth or substance
empty · shallow · insubstantial · vacuous · bland · insipid · thin · weightless · flimsy · toothless
lip service
Insincere expression of agreement
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
- glibSuperficially articulate
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
perfunctory · feigned · smarmy · smooth-talking · contrived · mechanical · going through motions · pro forma · obligatory · rote
consolation
Comfort during distress
- reassuranceWords meant to calm
- soothingReducing distress or discomfort
- sympatheticFeeling others' emotions
well-meaning · heartening · encouraging · uplifting · kind words · supportive · silver lining · blessing in disguise · meant to be · time heals
- folk wisdomproverb, folklore, folk sayings, saying, proverbs
- blatherbabble, balderdash, baloney, blarney, blather
- sayingssayings, saying, proverb, proverbs, adage
- wisdomwisdom, sagacity, sapience, discernment, insight
- hypocrisyhypocrisy, hypocrite, sanctimony, two-faced, self-righteousness
- proverbsproverbs, sayings, maxims, adages, aphorisms
platitudesnovel ideas
Original, untried concepts
epiphanies · revelations · breakthroughs · innovations · creative thinking
platitudesprofundities
Matters of great depth
wisdom · sagacity · philosophical depth · hard truths · nuggets of wisdom