as in clichés
an idea or expression that has been used by many people
another sitcom based on the banality of roommates with opposite personalities
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Recent Examples of banalities
As far back as the Victorian era, exchanging a few banalities was part of a veritable social code—a way of signaling both politeness and boundaries.
—
Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 27 Dec. 2025
Written by Noah Oppenheim, Bigelow’s real-time thriller about the banalities and actualities of a fictional-in-premise-only nuclear attack on the United States is Netflix’s best horse in the race at the Oscars this year.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Sep. 2025
Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 27 Dec. 2025
Written by Noah Oppenheim, Bigelow’s real-time thriller about the banalities and actualities of a fictional-in-premise-only nuclear attack on the United States is Netflix’s best horse in the race at the Oscars this year.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for banalities
Noun
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Eritrea had trounced Zanzibar to reach the semi-finals of the CECAFA Under-20 Championship — consisting of national teams from east and central African nations — when, amid the celebrations and platitudes from government officials back home, the players made their move.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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Well, Texas is good on offense and little else, and to his credit Miller isn't hiding behind platitudes about where this thing can go one day or what must happen over these next few weeks.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Despite their clear affection for these women, the Dardenne brothers never sugarcoat their characters’ unenviable circumstance or latch onto phony bromides to alleviate our anxiety.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Jan. 2026
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There is a reason why the apocalyptic bromides about the state of print haven’t come to fruition, other than for disposable periodicals and newspapers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The play isn’t subtle; the final sequence leans hard on truisms about addiction and trauma, which are affecting but overly explicit.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2026
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One of the truisms in the past for Team Canada at some best-on-best events is needing a few games to find its game.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The romance tropes are endless, and the magic is too.—
De Elizabeth,
Glamour,
17 Mar. 2026
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Checkers ice out the Islanders Besides book lovers discussing their book boyfriends and favorite tropes there was a hockey game Friday night.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Taking what the defense gives you is one of the oldest sayings in the NBA book.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Holtz was quick with inspirational sayings, humor, and self-depreciation that was an act, but oh so charming.—
Mac Engel
March 5,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Banalities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banalities. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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