banal

/bəˈnɑːl/ (bre, ipa) · /bəˈnɑːl/ (ame, ipa) · /bə-ˈnal ba-, -ˈnäl bā-ˈnal; ˈbā-nᵊl/ (ame, mw)

banal — adjective

  • banalpositive
  • more banalcomparative
  • most banalsuperlative

1. so common and overused that it no longer feels fresh, interesting, or worth much

1.形容詞C1
釋義

so common and overused that it no longer feels fresh, interesting, or worth much attention

例句

Ritu called the movie's surprise ending banal and easy to predict.

call + noun + banal in criticism

After ten similar ads, the campaign's happy-family message felt banal.

felt banal after repeated exposure

同義詞
  • cliched

    more directly linked to stock phrases or familiar story ideas

  • trite

    slightly more formal and often used for language or opinions worn out by repetition

  • predictable

    focuses on how easily something can be guessed, not on overuse itself

  • boring

    broader and more everyday; does not always suggest overuse or lack of originality

反義詞
  • original

    shows fresh ideas instead of recycled ones

  • inventive

    suggests imagination and creative thinking

  • fresh

    feels new and lively rather than stale

文法句型

banal + noun

be + banal

sound/look/feel + banal

find/call + noun + banal

用法筆記

Usually describes ideas, remarks, plots, or designs that have lost impact through repetition. It is more critical than ordinary because it points to a lack of freshness rather than simple everyday normality.

常見錯誤

❌The two-hour queue was banal.
✅The two-hour queue was boring.
💡'banal' criticizes an overused idea or style, not an experience that is merely dull or slow.