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
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
Mane, who now plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, and Salah have since acknowledged a rivalry existed between them before awkwardly retreating to the sort of platitudes footballers often offer about one another.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
After, Sutton Stracke offered platitudes while answering questions about her fractured relationships with ex-assistant Avi Gabay and Garcelle Beauvais.
—Vulture Editors, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
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
Mane, who now plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, and Salah have since acknowledged a rivalry existed between them before awkwardly retreating to the sort of platitudes footballers often offer about one another.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
After, Sutton Stracke offered platitudes while answering questions about her fractured relationships with ex-assistant Avi Gabay and Garcelle Beauvais.
—Vulture Editors, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
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
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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
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Kemp does warn his readers to be skeptical of truisms about the nature of history and the odds of apocalypse.—
Linda Kinstler,
The Atlantic,
1 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
That these sayings are meant to reflect something both deep and asinine about the film itself is self-evident.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Today, the writings come in the form of cards and sweet sayings on candy.—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Between jokes about research funding and the scientific questions that might arise upon spotting a fuzzy pink Tyrannosaurus rex on a strange planet, Lemming uses her protagonist, Dory, to poke fun at romance tropes and graduate student woes alike.—
Brianne Kane,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Originally opened in 2023, Under the Cover sells a variety of romance books in wide variety of spice levels and tropes.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee
February 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Platitudes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/platitudes. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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