platitude
/ˈplatɪtjuːd
/noun
A remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful: she began uttering liberal platitudes...
- McDonnell's yet-to-be-delivered statement opens with self-serving platitudes and praise for the committee.
- So says The Knife, who, as their name suggests, are not a conventional band content to offer vacuous platitudes served on a diet of mediocrity.
- Gone are (some of) the moral platitudes, and in their place are actual critiques and questions.
Synonyms
cliché, truism, commonplace, hackneyed/trite/banal/overworked saying, banality, old chestnut;
bromide, inanity, tag
Derivatives
platitudinize
- This is the government which dares to platitudinise about democracy, freedom and human rights, even as it colludes in murder and terror of epic proportions.
- So, you will understand if I withdraw myself from such disgusting platitudinising.
Origin
Early 19th century: from French, from plat 'flat'.
Rhymes
- unthinkable
- unthinkableness
- unthinkably
- unthinking
- unthinkingly
- unthinkingness
- unthought
- unthoughtful
- unthread
- unthreatened
- unthreatening
- unthriftily
- unthriftiness
- unthrifty
- unthrone
- untidily
- untidiness
- untidy
- untie
- untied
- until
- until further notice
- until further orders
- untilled
- until (or till) hell freezes over