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Definitions

hackneyed

[hak-need] / ˈhæk nid /
ADJECTIVE
clichéd, tired
Synonyms
STRONGEST
banal corny stale threadbare timeworn trite well-worn
WEAK
antiquated common commonplace conventional everyday familiar tune hokey moth-eaten obsolete old old-hat out-of-date outdated outmoded overworked pedestrian played-out quotidian run-of-the-mill stereotyped stock unoriginal worn-out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
fresh new original
WEAK
uncommon

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for hackneyed?
The closest synonyms for hackneyed are trite and banal. All three words suggest that something has become stale or dull due to overuse—that it has become clichéd due to being done to death. Synonyms that focus on overuse include overused, overdone, worn out, and well-worn. Other synonyms include commonplace and unoriginal. The word threadbare is used in a literal way to describe worn-out clothes, but it can also be used in a figurative way to mean hackneyed. The word shopworn can mean the same thing.
Where does hackneyed come from?
Hackneyed comes from the word hackney, referring to a carriage for hire (also called a hackney coach) or the kind of horse used to pull such a carriage. The word was also once used to refer to a person hired to do menial work, leading to the term hack, meaning someone, such as an artist or writer, who produces hackneyed work. The word hackney itself comes from the placename Hackney, a borough of London.
What is the opposite (antonym) of hackneyed?
Hackneyed suggests something that is overdone. The opposite of this would be something truly new, fresh, and original. Be careful, though—calling something fresh or original can sound a bit hackneyed!
How do you use hackneyed in a sentence?
Hackneyed is especially used to describe overused expressions or unoriginal works of art or elements of them, such as the plot of a movie or an overdone joke. Here are some examples of hackneyed in a sentence:
  • His leadership style depended on spouting hackneyed phrases like “blue sky thinking” and “bleeding edge.”
  • The mystery novel was so hackneyed that I had it figured out by the end of the first chapter.
  • I never know what to write in a sympathy card—everything feels so hackneyed and trite.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"It's a very hackneyed expression but it's a huge privilege. It really is," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

The film rests in a dismal tone for so long that its gloominess becomes sappy, making the ending feel hackneyed and inevitable.

From Salon • Nov. 30, 2025

It may be hackneyed, but there’s a lot of truth to that.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 8, 2023

The Ping-Pong table was surrounded by silent reminders of a singular college career — purple helmets, signed footballs, All-Pac-10 plaques, framed articles from Sports Illustrated and The Seattle Times featuring delightfully hackneyed headlines:

From Seattle Times • Oct. 6, 2023

So what if her first original words in months were the most hackneyed.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

Vocabulary lists containing hackneyed

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Grade 12, List 2

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!