Synonyms of formulaic

formulaic

adjective

ˌfȯr-myə-ˈlā-ik 

as in imitative

using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model

she thought the plots of most action movies were pretty formulaic

Synonyms & Similar Words

• imitative
• unoriginal
• imitation
• emulative
• mimetic
• mock
• misleading
• slavish
• deceptive
• copied
• canned
• false
• mimic
• apish
• fraudulent
• epigonic
• synthetic
• artificial
• perfunctory
• routine
• sham
• fake
• bogus
• simulated
• counterfeit
• uninspired
• cut-and-dried
• substitute
• factitious
• duplicated
• reproduced
• plagiarized
• photocopied
• cribbed
• reduplicated
• transcribed
• forged
• backup
• man-made

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• original
• true
• legitimate
• authentic
• real
• bona fide
• archetypal
• natural
• genuine
• classic
• ideal
• model

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of formulaic

Under his guardianship, the race has become a constant traveller, with a dozen foreign grand départs, and less formulaic, finding new finishes in the Vosges, Jura and Massif Central, throwing in more cobblestones and punchy late climbs. — Andy McGrath, New York Times, 11 July 2026

Plath famously spent years trying and failing to master formulaic, commercial short fiction for magazines like Ladies’ Home Journal and The Saturday Evening Post. — Literary Hub, 1 July 2026

The result is jewelry that feels meaningful rather than formulaic. — Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 26 June 2026

And their movies don’t get more formulaic than the new odd couple-style comedy starring John Cena and Eric André. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026