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canned

canned

5.6
Prepared speech or reply that always sounds the same
  • adjective
  • /kænd/
translation icon : preparado
  • Politicians often deliver canned statements written by staff rather than speaking from experience.

Examples

  • His speech was completely canned and felt insincere.

  • She deleted the canned apology and wrote a personal message to the affected customers.

  • The customer service representative offered a canned response that didn't address my concern.

  • I can't stand canned responses in customer service.

  • The customer service representative offered a canned response that didn't address my concern.

  • Politicians often deliver canned statements written by staff rather than speaking from experience.

  • I can't stand canned responses in customer service.

Synonyms

trite
vscanned
26 6.6

Not new or interesting because it is used too often

is similar but emphasizes prewritten, formulaic responses
stilted
vscanned
9 7.4

Too formal and unnatural in speech or writing so it sounds awkward

is instead prepared and formulaic rather than merely formal
ready-made
vscanned
1 4.7

A phrase or idea used so often that it no longer seems new

is prepared in advance and used as standard responses
cliched
vscanned
1 5.4

Not new because people use it too often and it is easy to guess

is more about being prepared and used as stock replies
platitudinous
vscanned
1 9.9

Full of old or obvious ideas that seem important

is plain prepared wording used without real spontaneity
readymade
vscanned
5.3

Showing no original thought and using common ideas

is used for stock replies and lacks spontaneity
platitudinal
vscanned
9.9

Not original, dull and trying to seem important

is ordinary prepared phrasing rather than genuinely original

Antonyms

250 3.6

New and different, not copied from others

187 4.2

Happening naturally without planning or outside cause

Compounds

12 1.0

Food that people keep in metal cans so it lasts a long time

11 1.0

Food kept in a metal can so it lasts a long time

1 1.8

Meat kept in a sealed can to last a long time

1 1.0

Food stored in metal cans so it lasts a long time

1 9.8

A hunt where animals kept in a fenced area are chased and killed for trophies

Hunting animals in a fenced area where they cannot escape, often called unfair to animals

How Formulaic

scripted
3.7
canned
5.6
natural
660 1.0
spontaneous
187 4.2

Surface Forms

canned positive

Morphology

canned = can (semi-transparent) = can + ed

Meaning is a pragmatic/metaphorical extension from 'pre-recorded' or 'pre-packaged' to 'formulaic' or 'pre-prepared', so the link is recognizable but not fully literal.

Etymology

Canned The idea of canned replies comes from the same image as food in a can: something made and stored earlier. So a canned response is a 'prepared' answer that can feel not original.