as in clichés
an idea or expression that has been used by many people
"blondes have more fun" is a silly platitude
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Recent Examples of platitudes
Li shook hands with Whitmarsh and exchanged platitudes with the other guests.
—
Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
The stump speech that voters — or would-be voters — get about this time of year entails platitudes about exercising rights, not sitting on the sidelines, using your voice and so on.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Many use cases are still being deployed or piloted, and the agency’s AI database is filled with jargon and platitudes that, in many instances, can be interpreted in multiple ways.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Google is famous for dodging questions by reciting platitudes on its calls.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
Too often, sustainability messaging swings between vague platitudes and overwhelming detail.
—Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
In most cases, the record holders agree to be interviewed, distilling years of experience into fairly shallow platitudes — pithy advice Green finds understandably unsatisfying.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
And still … No matter how many platitudes thrown his way for mental makeup, expert preparation and popularity in the locker room, Stidham faces a daunting challenge.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 19 Jan. 2026
The lockers were cleaned out, the garbage bags were full, and the platitudes were flying in lieu of the confetti that won’t be falling for the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in February.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2026
Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
The stump speech that voters — or would-be voters — get about this time of year entails platitudes about exercising rights, not sitting on the sidelines, using your voice and so on.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Many use cases are still being deployed or piloted, and the agency’s AI database is filled with jargon and platitudes that, in many instances, can be interpreted in multiple ways.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Google is famous for dodging questions by reciting platitudes on its calls.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
Too often, sustainability messaging swings between vague platitudes and overwhelming detail.
—Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
In most cases, the record holders agree to be interviewed, distilling years of experience into fairly shallow platitudes — pithy advice Green finds understandably unsatisfying.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
And still … No matter how many platitudes thrown his way for mental makeup, expert preparation and popularity in the locker room, Stidham faces a daunting challenge.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 19 Jan. 2026
The lockers were cleaned out, the garbage bags were full, and the platitudes were flying in lieu of the confetti that won’t be falling for the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in February.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for platitudes
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
In the early years of Islam, when states hardly existed as such in the Arab world, Sharia helped communities to manage their own affairs, based on a set of guidelines drawn from the Quran and on the sayings of the Prophet.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The users are not only escaping the real world for a moment, but are escaping their own identities in a way that fiction can provide, giving familiar tropes that will always conclude with a happy ending in place of the uncertainties (and often cruel certainties) of the real world.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The solid dramatic framework that Gyllenhaal establishes drives events onward with relentless force, and her film is devilishly clever in its fusion of gothic horror and film-noir tropes.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Platitudes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/platitudes. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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