hackneyed 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhak-nēd How to pronounce hackneyed (audio)
Definition of hackneyednext
as in stereotyped
used or heard so often as to be dull it's hackneyed, but true—the more you save the more you earn

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hackneyed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of hackney
as in exhausted
to use so much as to make less appealing advertisers have hackneyed the word "revolutionary" so much that it now just means that a product is new

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective hackneyed differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of hackneyed are stereotyped, threadbare, and trite. While all these words mean "lacking the freshness that evokes attention or interest," hackneyed stresses being worn out by overuse so as to become dull and meaningless.

all of the metaphors and images in the poem are hackneyed

When is stereotyped a more appropriate choice than hackneyed?

Although the words stereotyped and hackneyed have much in common, stereotyped implies falling invariably into the same pattern or form.

views of minorities that are stereotyped and out-of-date

When would threadbare be a good substitute for hackneyed?

The meanings of threadbare and hackneyed largely overlap; however, threadbare applies to what has been used until its possibilities of interest have been totally exhausted.

a mystery novel with a threadbare plot

When might trite be a better fit than hackneyed?

While the synonyms trite and hackneyed are close in meaning, trite applies to a once effective phrase or idea spoiled from long familiarity.

"you win some, you lose some" is a trite expression

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hackneyed
Adjective
This is actually better than some of the hackneyed rom-coms Reiner muddled through, a coming-of-age story about two kids’ pseudo-love story from grade school through middle school. — Will Leitch, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025 Unfortunately though, Cooper can’t escape certain hackneyed biopic tropes in representing the songwriting, which are almost impossible to avoid. — Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 23 Oct. 2025 The story revolves around this character in ways that feel hackneyed and forced. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 Trauma is not a hackneyed literary trope in the work of Miriam Toews. — Lorrie Moore, The New York Review of Books, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hackneyed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hackneyed
  1. stereotyped
  2. exhausted
  3. tired
  4. overused
  5. trite
  6. bored
  7. commonplace
  8. overexposed
Adjective
  • Despite their outer appearances and oftentimes stereotyped personalities, the ladies embrace each other’s depths and contradictions.
    — Meagan Jordan, VIBE.com, 10 July 2026
  • This is a directed, stereotyped behavior in which the highest-resolution region of the somatosensory surface is brought to bear on the object requiring the most detailed analysis.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Definition of stereotyped
Verb
  • Deery becomes the latest player who exhausted their eligibility to sue for an extra year of eligibility.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Your eyes will thank you College students often fall asleep without removing their contacts, especially when exhausted from late-night studying or over-intoxicated from partying.
    — Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of exhausted
Adjective
  • Pinterest says Gen Z and Millennials are putting their own spins on trends rather than copying them, a sign that visible under-eyes and lived-in finishes could outlast the tired girl label itself.
    — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The Republican president looks increasingly tired and running out of steam, has not introduced any major new initiatives and could see the political writing on the wall.
    — Joe Battenfeld, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of tired
Verb
  • While the analogy may be slightly overused, the challenge is that oil still needs to be refined into a useful end product.
    — Guy Courtin, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Although the word ‘hero’ is greatly overused in today’s society, in my mind, Calvin Duncan is a hero in the truest sense of that word.
    — Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
Definition of overused
Adjective
  • Unfortunately, Eggers’s depiction of Olympia at this stage occasionally seems trite.
    — Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 22 July 2026
  • There is no cultural ethnic pandering, no consideration to what, in this context, would have been a trite idea of diversity and inclusion.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 1 June 2026
Definition of trite
Verb
  • Needless to say, Parker and Stone quickly got bored with the subject, adding a subplot that saw Obama teaming up with his apparent nemesis John McCain to dig a tunnel from the Oval Office to the Smithsonian and steal the Hope Diamond.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The popular Korean drama Flex X Cop, whose full first season and episode one of season two drop on August 7, centers on Jin I-soo, who is an immature heir to a massive company and is bored with his job.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of bored
Adjective
  • The vehicle will have regenerative braking that is commonplace on most fully electric cars.
    — Keith Laing, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Plante was the first goalie to wear a mask regularly and was one of the first to play the puck outside the crease in a practice that is now commonplace.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of commonplace
Verb
  • Imai had pitched twice in the previous 19 days, occupying a roster spot while leaving his fellow relievers overexposed.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • While some use leverage strategically, many are overexposed, risking severe losses when markets inevitably correct, proving even good ideas can fail without surviving volatility.
    — Andrew Graham, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of overexposed

Browse Nearby Words

hackney coach
hackneyed
hackneying
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Cite this Entry

“Hackneyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hackneyed. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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