banal

Definition of banal

unoriginal and dull; lacking creativity

Synonyms for banal

• trite
• platitudinous
• vapid

banal in a Sentence

1. The reviewer grew weary of banal, by-the-book action movies.

Why banal Matters for GRE & SAT

"banal" is a adjective that means "unoriginal and dull; lacking creativity" closely related to words like "trite", "platitudinous", "vapid". As a word starting with B, it belongs to a cluster of GRE and SAT vocabulary that test-takers often encounter in Verbal Reasoning, Text Completion, and Reading Comprehension sections.

On the GRE, understanding "banal" helps you distinguish between closely related answer choices in Sentence Equivalence questions. On the SAT, recognizing this word in context strengthens your performance on Craft & Structure and Words in Context questions. Seeing how "banal" is used in sentences — like the examples above — builds the contextual understanding that standardized tests reward.

Study tip: Start with the definition and part of speech (adjective). Then learn its 3 synonyms to build a word network. Finally, practice with spaced repetition to move "banal" into long-term memory.

How to Remember banal

One effective way to remember "banal" (adjective) is to group it with similar words you already know: "trite" and "platitudinous" and "vapid". When you encounter "banal" on a test, these synonym connections help you quickly recall its meaning — "unoriginal and dull; lacking creativity".

Use flashcard apps with spaced repetition to review "banal" at increasing intervals until it becomes automatic.

More Vocabulary Words Starting with B

• banish — expel from a place, especially as punishment; get rid of
• baroque — overly detailed or ornamental
• barrage — an overwhelming concentration of something, typically hostile words
• barren — incapable of producing offspring or fruit; unproductive
• base — lacking principles; morally wrong
• bawdy — humorously dealing with sexual subjects; risqué in a comedic way
• befuddled — confused, bewildered, or perplexed
• beguile — charm or captivate, sometimes in a deceiving way
• belie — give a false impression of; mask
• belligerent — argumentative, threatening, or aggressive