Webster's English Dictionary

Enter the word to look up:

trite

trite \'tri-t\ aj [L tritus, fr. pp. of terere to rub, wear away - more at 
   THROW] : hackneyed from much use : STALE an lacking the freshness that 
   evokes attention or interest. TRITE applies to a once effective phrase or 
   idea spoiled from long familiarity; HACKNEYED stresses being worn out by 
   overuse so as to become dull and meaningless; STEREOTYPED implies falling 
   invariably into the same pattern or form; THREADBARE applies to what has 
   been used until its possibilities of interest have been totally exhausted - 
   trite.ly av SYN syn TRITE, HACKNEYED, STEREOTYPED, THREADBARE me