buh-NAL or BAY-nul
(adjective) So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring.
The movie’s plot was utterly banal and forgettable.
Fun Fact
Originally from a French word for communal property, “banal” came to describe anything overused or worn-out from constant repetition. It’s the go-to word for stale clichés, predictable plots, and recycled ad slogans.
dawg-MAT-ik
(adjective) Asserting opinions or beliefs in an arrogant, rigid, and often unyielding way.
His dogmatic approach left no room for compromise or alternative ideas.
Mid 17th century: from late Latin dogmaticus, from Greek dogmatikos, from dogma ‘opinion, tenet’.
Fun Fact
Dogmatic is often used in politics, academia, or religion—anywhere someone clings to a belief system so tightly that opposing views are dismissed outright. It doesn’t necessarily mean the belief is wrong—just that it’s inflexibly held. In leadership or conversation, being called dogmatic is rarely a compliment; it suggests stubborn conviction without curiosity or tolerance.