hackneyed
11 synonyms and 4 antonyms for hackneyed, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Used so often that it has lost its force or originality.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use hackneyed
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
hackneyed phrase
hackneyed plot
hackneyed metaphor
sound hackneyed
Formal and literary; standard in criticism and review writing.
Etymology
From hackney, a horse kept for hire, hence anything made stale and commonplace by constant use.
Full origin of hackneyed →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between hackneyed and cliché?
A cliché is the thing itself, a noun: a phrase or idea worn out by repetition. Hackneyed is the adjective describing anything in that state, whether a phrase, a plot or an image. A hackneyed expression is a cliché.
Can hackneyed describe more than words?
Yes. Plots, arguments, jokes, camera shots and design ideas can all be hackneyed. It applies to anything that has been repeated until it stopped having any effect.
