truism
Self-evident observation
A truism is a statement so obviously true that it hardly needs saying: It's a truism that practice makes perfect.
The word often carries a dismissive edge—calling something a truism suggests it's too self-evident to be insightful.
Truisms differ from platitudes in that platitudes are merely stale, while truisms are undeniably accurate.
Traditional saying expressing truth
- adageTraditional pithy truth
- sayingShort, wise expression
- axiomSelf-evident starting principle
- dictumAuthoritative formal statement
precept · aphorism · epigram · motto · byword · saw · wisdom · tenet
Trite, overused remark
- banalityTiresome lack of originality
- commonplaceUnremarkable and frequent
- hackneyedOverused and unoriginal
- overusedEmployed too frequently
tired · worn-out · bromide · chestnut · threadbare · shopworn · stale · trite
Requiring no demonstration
- apparentClearly seen or understood
- evidentClearly perceived or understood
- manifestClearly apparent or displayed
- patentObvious; inventor's monopoly
clear · undeniable · axiomatic · incontrovertible · indisputable · unquestionable · given · foregone conclusion
Redundant or circular statement
- redundancyNeedless duplication
- circular reasoningFallacy assuming its conclusion
- meaninglessLacking significance or purpose
- vacuousEmpty of content
hollow · repetition · restatement · pleonasm · superficial · glib · oversimplification · facile
proverb
Traditional saying expressing truth
dictum · precept · aphorism · epigram · motto · byword · saw · wisdom · tenet · principle
platitude
Trite, overused remark
- banalityTiresome lack of originality
- commonplaceUnremarkable and frequent
- hackneyedOverused and unoriginal
overused · tired · worn-out · bromide · chestnut · threadbare · shopworn · stale · trite · stock phrase
self-evident
Requiring no demonstration
- apparentClearly seen or understood
- evidentClearly perceived or understood
- manifestClearly apparent or displayed
patent · clear · undeniable · axiomatic · incontrovertible · indisputable · unquestionable · given · foregone conclusion · stating the obvious
tautology
Redundant or circular statement
- redundancyNeedless duplication
- circular reasoningFallacy assuming its conclusion
- meaninglessLacking significance or purpose
vacuous · hollow · repetition · restatement · pleonasm · superficial · glib · oversimplification · facile · glibness
- proverbsproverbs, sayings, maxims, adages, aphorisms
- clichescliche, platitude, bromide, tired phrase, worn phrase
- expressionsexpression, I love you, phrase, idioms, thank you
- folk wisdomproverb, folklore, folk sayings, saying, proverbs
- maximsmaxim, adage, proverb, saying, aphorism
- phrasesnoun phrases, noun phrase, verb phrase, prepositional phrase, prepositional phrases
truismfalsehood
Deliberate untrue statement
lie · untruth · falsity · fallacy · misconception
truismprofundity
Intellectual or emotional depth
insight · revelation · epiphany · original thought · wisdom
truismcontroversy
Prolonged public disagreement
paradox · heresy · hypothesis · conjecture · speculation