Hackneyed
Something that is hackneyed is overused and lacks originality; it is clichéd or stale due to excessive repetition.
adjectiveHackneyed
Something that is hackneyed is overused and lacks originality; it is clichéd or stale due to excessive repetition.
adjectiveImagine This
Picture a once-exciting keynote speaker who keeps repeating the same tired lines like 'think outside the box' and 'in this together.' The audience glances at their watches, realizing the talk is hackneyed and lacking fresh ideas.
Sounds Like
HAK-nee-ed
Looks Like
Looks like hackney + ed — the word visually hints at something old or overused tied to the old carriage term hackneyed.
Remember This
Etymology: from hackney (a horse-drawn carriage for hire in London) plus the suffix -ed; originally referring to a carriage that was used so much it became ordinary, later extended to describe overused language or ideas.
Other Forms
Connect With
cliché, banal, trite, stale, overused
Note
Use with caution: describes language, plots, or ideas, not people. Distinguish from 'novel' or 'fresh.' Common collocations include 'hackneyed phrase,' 'hackneyed plot,' and 'hackneyed excuse.'