Definition of PLATITUDE

Examples of platitude in a Sentence

His speech was filled with familiar platitudes about the value of hard work and dedication. “blondes have more fun” is a silly platitude

Recent Examples on the Web

Here’s hoping the company starts putting those background statements on the record — because until YouTube starts standing behind its decisions with arguments rather than platitudes, we are doomed to spend eternity talking past each other. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "Three ways YouTube could fight harassment," 6 June 2019 Dressed in medieval gowns and tassels, you’ve been drowned with graduation platitudes and advice. — Andy Kessler, WSJ, "How to Slay Dragons in the Business World," 19 May 2019 This year, skip the Hallmark-style platitudes and thank your mom with a truly thoughtful Mother's Day card. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "5 Ways to Write a Heartfelt Mother's Day Card," 3 Apr. 2019 Ban Mound Visits The image of an out-of-shape manager plodding onto the field to offer platitudes to his pitcher is ingrained in baseball’s fabric. — WSJ, "Our Insane Ideas to Save Baseball," 25 Oct. 2018 This sounds like a cliché, but much of the truth about what’s happening in Wind Gap is masquerading behind platitudes — like the idea that the women are all talk, too gentle and passive for murder. — Aja Romano, Vox, "In Sharp Objects, secrets are the sharpest weapons of all," 30 July 2018 But so far, the USOC's account of itself has been bracingly free of information and long on platitude and propaganda. — Sally Jenkins, chicagotribune.com, "The USOC needs a leader who cares about athletes more than expense accounts," 5 July 2018 On the issue of violence, Mr. López Obrador has largely failed to articulate a policy that goes much beyond platitudes. — New York Times, "López Obrador, an Atypical Leftist, Wins Mexico Presidency in Landslide," 2 July 2018 The large number of dead and wounded attracts headlines and the usual prayers, platitudes and condolences from politicians. — Alan M. Delamater, Ph.d., miamiherald, "Children and gun violence: Solutions to reducing the epidemic | Miami Herald," 20 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'platitude.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.