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hackneyed

adjective
hack·​neyed | \ ˈhak-nēd How to pronounce hackneyed (audio) \

Definition of hackneyed

: lacking in freshness or originality hackneyed slogans
Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Does hackney come from the name of an English town? More Example Sentences Learn More about hackneyed

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Choose the Right Synonym for hackneyed

trite, hackneyed, stereotyped, threadbare mean lacking the freshness that evokes attention or interest. trite applies to a once effective phrase or idea spoiled from long familiarity. "you win some, you lose some" is a trite expression 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 stereotyped implies falling invariably into the same pattern or form. views of minorities that are stereotyped and out-of-date threadbare applies to what has been used until its possibilities of interest have been totally exhausted. a mystery novel with a threadbare plot

Does hackney come from the name of an English town?

Hackney entered the English language in the 14th century as a noun. Some think perhaps it came from "Hakeneye" (now "Hackney"), the name of a town (now a borough) in England. Others dispute this explanation, pointing to similar forms in other European languages. The noun "hackney," in any case, refers to a horse suitable for ordinary riding or driving-as opposed to one used as a draft animal or a war charger. When "hackney" was first used as a verb in the late 16th century, it often meant "to make common or frequent use of." Later, it meant "to make trite, vulgar, or commonplace." The adjective "hackneyed" began to be used in the 18th century and now is a common synonym for "trite."

Examples of hackneyed in a Sentence

it's hackneyed, but true—the more you save the more you earn

Recent Examples on the Web

 JupiterimagesGetty Images From the color of packaging to hackneyed product names, the beauty industry has made some pretty amusing generalizations about what men and women want from their beauty. — Hana Hong, Marie Claire, "Can I Use My Boyfriend’s Moisturizer?," 30 Aug. 2019 What had begun as a useful counter to the toxicity of the Mourinho era quickly became hackneyed. — Jonathan Wilson, SI.com, "Questions Abound Ahead of Solskjaer's Second Season at Man United," 1 Aug. 2019 The Attorney General raises the same hackneyed and losing arguments in each case involving contraband in jails or prisons,’’ the judges wrote. — Don Thompson, BostonGlobe.com, "California court says prison pot is OK — if inmates don’t inhale," 13 June 2019 What's more disappointing, though, is the way the novel doubles down on the hackneyed cliche of the tragic, unattainable beauty. — Ron Charles, Dallas News, "In Richard Russo's 'Chances Are...,' a charming reunion unearths a chilling disappearance," 30 July 2019 What’s more disappointing, though, is the way the novel doubles down on the hackneyed cliche of the tragic, unattainable beauty. — Ron Charles Critic, Washington Post, "In Richard Russo’s ‘Chances Are,’ a charming reunion unearths a chilling disappearance," 29 July 2019 The shift back to the camp at the end happens in a vexingly hackneyed way that robs what came before of some of its resonance. — Sam Hurwitt, The Mercury News, "Review: ‘Macbeth’ in SF gets stunning update, with mixed results," 19 July 2019 Newsletter Sign-up Scheele is part of scientific folk-history, and while his hard-luck reputation may be hackneyed, at least it’s based on truth. — Andrew Crumey, WSJ, "‘Mendeleyev’s Dream’ and ‘Elemental’ Review: Cracking the Chemical Code," 21 June 2019 RHS Class of 2019, carry with you that childhood spirit of dreaming big, and answer the hackneyed question with all of the possibilities. — Steve Smith, courant.com, "Rockville Grads Urged To Reshape The Future," 14 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hackneyed.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of hackneyed

1735, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for hackneyed

see hackney entry 1

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More Definitions for hackneyed

hackneyed

adjective
How to pronounce hackneyed (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of hackneyed

: not interesting, funny, etc., because of being used too often : not fresh or original

See the full definition for hackneyed in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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