SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
commonplace
noun
An obvious or overused remark that adds little insight.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Overused or obvious remark
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topA truism is obviously true; a commonplace may be unoriginal without being informative.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See commonplace in use
The speech began with a commonplace about the importance of hard work.
When asked why a toolbox-sharing trial had failed, a mentor offered the commonplace 'These things happen,' adding little insight into the missing equipment or confused arrangements.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license