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
But for UConn, the platitudes feel profoundly honest.
—
Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026
Donovan reiterated a series of platitudes that haven’t changed during his time with the Bulls.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
For Hankins-Biggers and her team, espousing empty platitudes isn’t enough.
—Essence, 22 Mar. 2026
But when platitudes aren’t backed by action, the disparity between branding and behavior becomes impossible to ignore.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 17 Mar. 2026
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
This was an Alysa Liu celebration in Oakland, so a parade of stiff speakers and flowery platitudes would not suffice.
—Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Mar. 2026
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
Li shook hands with Whitmarsh and exchanged platitudes with the other guests.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026
Donovan reiterated a series of platitudes that haven’t changed during his time with the Bulls.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
For Hankins-Biggers and her team, espousing empty platitudes isn’t enough.
—Essence, 22 Mar. 2026
But when platitudes aren’t backed by action, the disparity between branding and behavior becomes impossible to ignore.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 17 Mar. 2026
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
This was an Alysa Liu celebration in Oakland, so a parade of stiff speakers and flowery platitudes would not suffice.
—Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Mar. 2026
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
Li shook hands with Whitmarsh and exchanged platitudes with the other guests.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 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
-
Countless sayings have likened friends to our most precious commodities—safety, home, even precious metals—for good reason.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Blue-and-white minibuses, inscribed with misspelt movie quotes and popular local sayings, snaked through the congestion on the narrow road in front of them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Steeped in international cinema, Haghighi has since taken familiar tropes, forms, and genres and bent them in new directions.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Episode 1, for example, comes over as a political thriller with horror tropes where Prime Minister Adolfo Saúrez battles in 1976 to persuade – or bribe – a Francoist parliament to vote itself out of existence.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Platitudes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/platitudes. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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