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

\/\/ all of the metaphors and images in the poem are hackneyed<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is 'stereotyped' a more appropriate choice than 'hackneyed'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words stereotyped<\/em><\/a> and hackneyed<\/em> have much in common, stereotyped<\/em> implies falling invariably into the same pattern or form.<\/p>

\/\/ views of minorities that are stereotyped<\/em> and out-of-date<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When would 'threadbare' be a good substitute for 'hackneyed'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The meanings of threadbare<\/em><\/a> and hackneyed<\/em> largely overlap; however, threadbare<\/em> applies to what has been used until its possibilities of interest have been totally exhausted.<\/p>

\/\/ a mystery novel with a threadbare<\/em> plot<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'trite' be a better fit than 'hackneyed'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

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

\/\/ \"you win some, you lose some\" is a trite<\/em> expression<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does the adjective 'hackneyed' differ from other similar words?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

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

\/\/ all of the metaphors and images in the poem are hackneyed<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is 'stereotyped' a more appropriate choice than 'hackneyed'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words stereotyped<\/em><\/a> and hackneyed<\/em> have much in common, stereotyped<\/em> implies falling invariably into the same pattern or form.<\/p>

\/\/ views of minorities that are stereotyped<\/em> and out-of-date<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When would 'threadbare' be a good substitute for 'hackneyed'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The meanings of threadbare<\/em><\/a> and hackneyed<\/em> largely overlap; however, threadbare<\/em> applies to what has been used until its possibilities of interest have been totally exhausted.<\/p>

\/\/ a mystery novel with a threadbare<\/em> plot<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'trite' be a better fit than 'hackneyed'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

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

\/\/ \"you win some, you lose some\" is a trite<\/em> expression<\/p>" } } ] }

hackneyed 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhak-nÄ“d 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

Relevance

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

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
On the first real mission in the jungle region of Fury Green, Samus encounters a Galactic Federation technician named Myles Mackenzie who, from his reveal in the pre-release previews, became a sticking point for fans due to his hackneyed sidekick trappings. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 2 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. commonplace
  5. overused
  6. trite
  7. bored
  8. overexposed
Adjective
  • Kelly Enders-Tharp, a three-time surrogate and education and experience specialist at Growing Generations, explains that surrogates are often stereotyped, or that their backgrounds are misrepresented.
    — Kris Ann Valdez, Parents, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Later, Lenape artist Joe Baker places cutout photographs of his ancestors over the stereotyped images of Native Americans found in the wallpaper.
    — Tom McDonough, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2025
Definition of stereotyped
Verb
  • Morehouse gives out $10 million in endowed scholarships every year, plus another $3 million to close the funding gap for students who have exhausted all other options.
    — Jason Armesto, AJC.com, 21 Mar. 2026
  • As investors, including Marc Andreessen, warn that AI companies are ‘running out’ of high‑quality human data and studies project that public web data for training could be exhausted within the next decade.
    — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of exhausted
Adjective
  • They have been seen directing snaking security lines and passing out water bottles to tired travelers.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Step in when someone’s tired or needs a break.
    — Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • Lines and other extended objects seem to be commonplace and even expected in QFT, which ostensibly describes pointlike objects.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
  • Although commonly associated with the visual arts, anonymity is commonplace in other disciplines, including music, with formerly anonymous stars including Australian singer Sia and French electronic duo Daft Pank.
    — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
Definition of commonplace
Verb
  • Dallas’ blue line has more depth in terms of numbers, but its top three producers have been overused.
    — Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026
  • So, if the idea of culture is overused, its importance tells the path to success — or failure.
    — Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2026
Definition of overused
Adjective
  • Hughes had been asked to write for trite Hollywood productions like Sol Lesser’s 1939 film Way Down South.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
  • That’s all well and good, but the series still needs a sturdy narrative to hold it all together, rather than ping-ponging between random subjects offering trite, emotionally hollow morality lessons.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 23 Feb. 2026
Definition of trite
Verb
  • Lululemon seems to acknowledge that some customers are getting bored with the brand.
    — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Crime-scene investigators bored holes and pulled out a succession of neat plastic packages containing razors, saw blades, handcuff keys, and security bits.
    — James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Definition of bored
Verb
  • Journalists related stories to Brown of the future princess giving them the slip, joking with them, managing her media relations so she wouldn’t be overexposed or maligned.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Most retirees are overexposed to housing.
    — Allison Schrager, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
Definition of overexposed

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Hackneyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hackneyed. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of hackneyed for Spanish Speakers

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