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Definitions

formulaic

[fawr-myuh-ley-ik] / ˌfɔr myəˈleɪ ɪk /
ADJECTIVE
ordinary
Synonyms
STRONGEST
conventional
WEAK
average common commonplace customary cut-and-dried everyday garden-variety imitative mechanical normal plain routine run-of-the-mill standard stock undistinguished unexceptional unoriginal unremarkable usual

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Fruit is an absurd but also simple way to reflect the formulaic, sensationalist and stereotypical world of dating reality TV, Lupinacci said.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

“The Housemaid” is far from the formulaic thriller its trailers and general synopsis suggest.

From Salon • Jan. 31, 2026

“F1” is a fun, exciting, predictable popcorn picture so formulaic it even contains a reference to formula in its title.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

So actually it’s not necessarily a recipe that’s too formulaic, as one would think.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2025

Visual analysis can help us to appreciate the beauty of a masterpiece, but we must be careful not to use a formulaic approach that would trivialize it.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.