A platitude is a statement which is considered meaningless and boring because it has been made many times before in similar situations.
[disapproval]
Why couldn't he say something original instead of spouting the same old platitudes?
...a stream of platitudes, outlining many problems but offering few solutions.
More Synonyms of platitude
platitude in British English
(ˈplætɪˌtjuːd)
noun
1.
a trite, dull, or obvious remark or statement; a commonplace
2.
staleness or insipidity of thought or language; triteness
Derived forms
platitudinous (ˌplatiˈtudinous)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from French, literally: flatness, from plat flat
platitude in American English
(ˈplætəˌtud; ˈplætəˌtjud)
noun
1.
a commonplace, flat, or dull quality, as in speech or writing
2.
a commonplace or trite remark, esp. one uttered as if it were fresh or original
SYNONYMY NOTE: a platitude is a trite remark or idea, esp. one uttered as if it were novel or momentous; a , commonplace is any obvious or conventional remark or idea; a , truism is a statement whose truth is widely known and whose utterance, therefore, seemssuperfluous; a , cliché is an expression or idea which, though once fresh and forceful, has become hackneyedand weak through much repetition; , bromide is an informal term for a platitude that is especially dull, tiresome, or annoying
Derived forms
platitudinous (ˌplatiˈtudinous) (ˈplætəˈtudənəs)
adjective
platitudinously (ˌplatiˈtudinously)
adverb
Word origin
Fr < OFr plat, flat (see plate), infl. by latitude, rectitude
Examples of 'platitude' in a sentence
platitude
We get the usual platitudes with a side serving of Except there's one thing.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We get the usual platitudes with a side serving of Except there's one thing.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His hastily rewritten conference speech will have to offer more than platitudes about consulting the people.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He will not offer platitudes about encouragement.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Instead he chose a few bland platitudes.
The Sun (2007)
He can only mouth the same old platitudes to audiences who already agree with him.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Nor does he offer pious platitudes.
Christianity Today (2000)
It is not only some politicians who have been guilty of sonorous but meaningless platitudes in the wake of the election result.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But the voters have had enough of her grim, frozen face and endless meaningless platitudes.
The Sun (2016)
These releases offer no new messages of hope or redemption, only old platitudes.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Instead of the usual earnest platitudes, big oil should get tough in Copenhagen.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
If he decides that you aren't, he will just give you the usual platitudes.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
I don't mean that anyone should offer platitudes to people who may have lost their jobs or their savings.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
platitude
British English: platitude NOUN
A platitude is a statement which is considered meaningless and boring because it has been made many times before in similar situations.
Why couldn't he say something original instead of spouting the same old platitudes?
American English: platitude
Brazilian Portuguese: lugar comum
Chinese: 陈词滥调
European Spanish: tópico
French: platitude
German: Plattitüde
Italian: banalità
Japanese: 陳腐な言葉
Korean: 진부한 문장
European Portuguese: lugar-comum
Latin American Spanish: tópico
1 (noun)
Definition
a trite or unoriginal remark
politicians spouting the same old platitudes
Synonyms
cliché
I've learned that the cliché about life not being fair is true.
stereotype
Accents can reinforce a stereotype.
commonplace
It is a commonplace to say that the poetry of the first world war was greater than that of the second.
banality
His ability to utter banalities never ceased to amaze me.
truism
the truism that nothing succeeds like success
bromide
The same old bromides were used to justify failure.
verbiage
inanity
trite remark
hackneyed saying
2 (noun)
any sense of platitude is undercut by the skill of the writing
Synonyms
triteness
banality
the banality of life
dullness
the dullness of their routine life
triviality
news items of quite astonishing triviality
inanity
the inanity of the conversation
vapidity
insipidity
Additional synonyms
in the sense of banality
His ability to utter banalities never ceased to amaze me.
Synonyms
cliché,
commonplace,
platitude,
truism,
bromide (informal),
old chestnut,
stock phrase,
trite phrase
in the sense of banality
the banality of life
Synonyms
unoriginality,
predictability,
dullness,
ordinariness,
triviality,
staleness,
vapidity,
triteness
in the sense of bromide
Definition
a boring, meaningless, or obvious remark
The same old bromides were used to justify failure.