adj
banal
buh-NAHL
adj
1
So common and unoriginal that it is boring.
"The movie was full of banal dialogue and predictable twists."
"His speech was full of banal platitudes about teamwork."
How to Use Banal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDull and unoriginal because it has been said or done so many times before.
Common mistake
Stress falls on the second syllable (buh-NAL or BAY-nal), not the first.
Common pairings
banal dialogue
banal remark
banal and predictable
Word Forms
more banal comparative, banaler comparative, most banal superlative, banalest superlative
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The movie was full of _____ dialogue and predictable twists.
Etymology
From French banal, originally describing something "held in common" under feudal service, later shifting to mean "unoriginal" or "commonplace."