banal
/bəˈnæl/
Group 2Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring GRE
Example in Context
The keynote address was disappointingly banal, offering nothing beyond the platitudes that audiences had heard countless times before.
Synonyms
boringtriteunoriginal
Etymology
Originally meant 'to proclaim' something obvious, now describes something so obvious it's boring.
- ban (French) — to proclaim
- al (Latin) — pertaining to
Memory Aid
😴Sounds like “ban all”
Imagine a boring meeting where someone says, 'Let's BAN ALL exciting ideas!' — that's so BANAL!
Visual Association
😐A room full of people yawning as they listen to the most predictable speech ever delivered.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “banal” mean on the GRE?
banal (adjective) means “So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring”. The keynote address was disappointingly banal, offering nothing beyond the platitudes that audiences had heard countless times before.
How to remember “banal” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “banal” sounds like “ban all”. Imagine a boring meeting where someone says, 'Let's BAN ALL exciting ideas!' — that's so BANAL!
What are synonyms for “banal”?
Common synonyms: boring, trite, unoriginal.