Hackneyed

Pronunciation: /ˈhækniɪd/

Definitions of hackneyed

adjective lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite

Example Sentences

A1 The story was so hackneyed that even children could predict the ending.

A2 The movie's plot was hackneyed and lacked originality.

B1 I find hackneyed phrases to be uninteresting and overused.

B2 The author's writing style was criticized for being hackneyed and cliched.

C1 The play received mixed reviews, with some critics calling it hackneyed and uninspired.

C2 Despite its hackneyed premise, the film was surprisingly well-received by audiences.

Examples of hackneyed in a Sentence

formal The professor criticized the student's essay for containing too many hackneyed phrases.

informal I'm tired of hearing the same hackneyed jokes over and over again.

slang That movie was so hackneyed, I couldn't even finish watching it.

figurative Her hackneyed excuses for being late were wearing thin with her boss.

Grammatical Forms of hackneyed

• past tense: hackneyed
• plural: hackneyed
• comparative: more hackneyed
• superlative: most hackneyed
• present tense: hackney
• future tense: will hackney
• perfect tense: have hackneyed
• continuous tense: is hackneying
• singular: hackneyed
• positive degree: hackneyed
• infinitive: to hackney
• gerund: hackneying
• participle: hackneyed

Origin and Evolution of hackneyed

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'hackneyed' originated from the term 'hackney', which referred to a horse for hire in the 14th century in England.

Evolution of the word: Over time, 'hackneyed' shifted from its original meaning of something that is overused or commonplace, to also include ideas or phrases that lack originality or creativity.