as in cliche
an idea or expression that has been used by many people
"blondes have more fun" is a silly platitude
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of platitude
The lyrics, also Thurber’s, reiterate the kinds of platitudes found in Goddess’s book.
—
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 21 May 2025
Though the impact of platitudes is limited, all trans people deserve protection, including those who wouldn’t call themselves dolls.
—Denny, Them., 30 Apr. 2025
Maybe now, after many years of promises and platitudes, there was an opportunity for actual reform.
—Amanda Chicago Lewis, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
When any Democratic politician, including Gov. JB Pritzker, dares to stand up to extreme Republican rhetoric with any language beyond polite pablum and pious platitudes, pundits tell Democrats to lower the volume, cut the contempt and be nice.
—Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for platitude
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 21 May 2025
Though the impact of platitudes is limited, all trans people deserve protection, including those who wouldn’t call themselves dolls.
—Denny, Them., 30 Apr. 2025
Maybe now, after many years of promises and platitudes, there was an opportunity for actual reform.
—Amanda Chicago Lewis, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
When any Democratic politician, including Gov. JB Pritzker, dares to stand up to extreme Republican rhetoric with any language beyond polite pablum and pious platitudes, pundits tell Democrats to lower the volume, cut the contempt and be nice.
—Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for platitude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for platitude
Noun
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So at least in her case, the Wild West cliches hold pretty true.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
30 May 2025
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Nonetheless, there is a satisfying, compact completeness to their handling of the storylines of four different young mothers and sufficient grace notes are enabled in each case to stave off the cliches that occasionally threaten to engulf events.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
23 May 2025
Noun
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Bear in mind the truism that stock markets can always go down as well as up.—
Dr. Ronald Premuroso,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2025
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According to Joyce, however, this truism depicts both Bloomsbury and the Victorians as monoliths and prevents a nuanced understanding of the complex ways Bloomsbury engaged with its Victorian past.—
Jenny Noyce,
JSTOR Daily,
14 May 2025
Noun
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The state uses a three-drug protocol of etomidate, rocuronium bromide and potassium acetate.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
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But behind such vague bromides are specific national qualities that social scientists can identify and measure.—
Michael J. Mazarr,
Foreign Affairs,
21 June 2022
Cite this Entry
“Platitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/platitude. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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