as in cliches
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
When asked to divulge what gave him confidence in Volpe long term, Cashman did not point to any specifics but rather platitudes that have not mounted to much success three years into the shortstop’s career.
—
Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
These kumbaya platitudes feel out of place when battered and bloody boys are dropping like flies, but that works to the film’s advantage, laying the groundwork for the final rug-pull.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Tuesday’s report included platitudes about making school meals healthier and to limit accessibility to junk food in food stamp programs.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
The accounts team logs in right on time, and the stupid dance of platitudes that precedes every meeting at every company around the world begins.
—Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
The United States might start to see itself as others do—self-righteous, hypocritical, futile—tire of its own platitudes and lies, and consider a change.
—Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Who hasn’t been placated with corporate platitudes or company swag when advocating for concrete change?
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
The film follows an ensemble of campers who are weary of platitudes about grief, and speak to one another from a place of radical honesty that is by turns heartbreaking and darkly hilarious, embracing irreverent humor as a cathartic means of self-expression.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025
The members simply rounded up the usual suspects of platitudes.
—Vincent Turley, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025
Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
These kumbaya platitudes feel out of place when battered and bloody boys are dropping like flies, but that works to the film’s advantage, laying the groundwork for the final rug-pull.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Tuesday’s report included platitudes about making school meals healthier and to limit accessibility to junk food in food stamp programs.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
The accounts team logs in right on time, and the stupid dance of platitudes that precedes every meeting at every company around the world begins.
—Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
The United States might start to see itself as others do—self-righteous, hypocritical, futile—tire of its own platitudes and lies, and consider a change.
—Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Who hasn’t been placated with corporate platitudes or company swag when advocating for concrete change?
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
The film follows an ensemble of campers who are weary of platitudes about grief, and speak to one another from a place of radical honesty that is by turns heartbreaking and darkly hilarious, embracing irreverent humor as a cathartic means of self-expression.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025
The members simply rounded up the usual suspects of platitudes.
—Vincent Turley, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for platitudes
Noun
-
New novels are rightly praised for breaking with traditional forms and criticized for turning to stale formulas and cliches.—
Nathaniel Moore
September 10,
Literary Hub,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Just really not going to sit here and give some cliches.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Incidents of such poisoning saw a sharp decline when the Food and Drug Administration phased out the use of bromides in pharmaceuticals between the mid 70s and late 1980s.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Platitudes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/platitudes. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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