platitude Hear it!

platitude Definition

plati·tude (plat′ə to̵̅o̅d′, -tyo̵̅o̅d′)

noun

  1. a commonplace, flat, or dull quality, as in speech or writing
  2. a commonplace or trite remark, esp. one uttered as if it were fresh or original

Etymology: Fr < OFr plat, flat (see plate), infl. by latitude, rectitude

platitude Related Forms
plat′i·tu′·di·nous (-to̵̅o̅d′'n əs) adjective plat′i·tu′·di·nously adverb
platitude Synonyms

platitude

n.

  1. A trite expression

    cliché, truism, proverb, triviality; see cliché, motto, proverb.

  2. Triteness

    flatness, boredom, evenness; see dullness 1, monotony 1. See syn. study at cliché.

platitude Usage Examples

Preposition: about

  • character: Orthodox authors of factory tours routinely appealed to platitudes about the systematic character of the industrial economy.

Converse of object

  • mouth: To hand that power away while mouthing platitudes about a Europe of nations is an insult to our people.
  • offer: Jack for his part promised no certainties, having too much respect for Joey to offer platitudes.
  • spout: While Gordon Brown spouts platitudes about the challenge from the Far East, taxes in Britain are already rising to a 24-year high.
  • utter: He was, justifiably, taken apart by Hugo Young of The Guardian for uttering similar platitudes on Frost.
  • hear: Haven't we heard the platitudes about ' lid ' or ' narod ' ( the people ) thousands of times under Communism?
  • get: I write to my MP and get platitudes back.

Adjective modifier

  • pious: Stood beside him putting forth his own pious platitudes was Tony Blair.
  • meaningless: Selectors will take refuge - if you let them - in meaningless platitudes.
  • usual: In the fading beam, the Scottish Executive justice minister, Cathy Jamieson, responded with the usual platitudes.
  • empty: Banal, empty platitudes fill its pages like wet cardboard clogging a dustbin.
  • old: Our politicians are slowly inching away from the old platitudes, too.
  • bland: Drowned out not just by the violent protest but also by the bland platitudes of the world supposed ' leaders ' .

Noun used with modifier

  • mouth: Asked about Tax policy, George was only able to mouth platitudes about being in principle in favor of low taxes.
  • politician: Politicians mouth platitudes about giving parents more choice... I know - I've done it myself.
platitude Quotes

Applause, n. The echo of a platitude.

—Bierce, Ambrose Gwinett

Where in this small-talking world can I find A longitude with no platitude?

—Fry, C(harles) B(urgess)

A platitude is simply a truth repeated until people get tired of hearing it.

—Baldwin (of Bewdley), Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl

The art of newspaper paragraphing is to stroke a platitude until it purrs like an epigram.

—Marquis, Don(ald Robert Perry)