Formulaic
adjective
Following a common plan or formula, not creative or original.
His novels are quite formulaic, following the same basic plot.
Often appears as...
- formulaic response
- formulaic writing
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Relating to a fixed or standardized method or procedure.
The research was conducted in a formulaic manner.
Often appears as...
- formulaic procedure
- formulaic method
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Using phrases, expressions, or ideas that are repeated often and are therefore not original.
Her poetry is hardly formulaic; each poem is a unique masterpiece.
Often appears as...
- formulaic language
- formulaic expressions
Usage tips
Disapproving
Literary
adjective
Following a common plan or formula, not creative or original.
His novels are quite formulaic, following the same basic plot.
Often appears as...
- formulaic response
- formulaic writing
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Relating to a fixed or standardized method or procedure.
The research was conducted in a formulaic manner.
Often appears as...
- formulaic procedure
- formulaic method
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Using phrases, expressions, or ideas that are repeated often and are therefore not original.
Her poetry is hardly formulaic; each poem is a unique masterpiece.
Often appears as...
- formulaic language
- formulaic expressions
Usage tips
Disapproving
Literary
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Lack of Originality
Indicates a work follows a set pattern without much innovation.
Many action movies are criticized for being formulaic.
Pro Tip 2/3Predictable Content
Often suggests the work might be boring due to lack of surprises.
The sitcom had such formulaic humor that I knew the punchlines ahead of time.
Pro Tip 3/3Genre Expectations
Some genres thrive on formulaic structures due to audience expectation.
Romance novels often have a formulaic happy ending.
Pro Tip 1/3Lack of Originality
Indicates a work follows a set pattern without much innovation.
Many action movies are criticized for being formulaic.
Pro Tip 2/3Predictable Content
Often suggests the work might be boring due to lack of surprises.
The sitcom had such formulaic humor that I knew the punchlines ahead of time.
Pro Tip 3/3Genre Expectations
Some genres thrive on formulaic structures due to audience expectation.
Romance novels often have a formulaic happy ending.
Pro Tip 1/3Lack of Originality
Indicates a work follows a set pattern without much innovation.
Many action movies are criticized for being formulaic.
Pro Tip 2/3Predictable Content
Often suggests the work might be boring due to lack of surprises.
The sitcom had such formulaic humor that I knew the punchlines ahead of time.
Pro Tip 3/3Genre Expectations
Some genres thrive on formulaic structures due to audience expectation.
Romance novels often have a formulaic happy ending.
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The value of your...
And when we do our jobs, we should be trying to do them as humanely as possible. For me, that meant putting more of myself in my work. I stopped writing formulaic corporate earnings stories,
Video examples
The value of your...
And when we do our jobs, we should be trying to do them as humanely as possible. For me, that meant putting more of myself in my work. I stopped writing formulaic corporate earnings stories,
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Miranda Richardson
English Actress
I like people to be surprised by the turn of events. I don't want things just to be pat and formulaic. If there's some sort of internal combustion in the character or a desire to change the way things are going, that makes for conflict, which is the essence of drama.
Quote examples
Cameron Crowe
American Director
It's more like can I build a group of characters and can I tell some universal truths that feel real and aren't formulaic in the spirit of filmmakers gone by who've told American stories that were personal and universal as well.
Quote examples
Rooney Mara
American Actress
If the entire script feels formulaic, then you know that the film will be like that. But if it's a really interesting script, and the character happens to be formulaic, then maybe there's a way of making them more interesting.
Quote examples
Nellie McKay
American Musician
I don't listen to much rap, really. I can rarely listen to a whole record of it, because musically, it's very formulaic, and oftentimes it doesn't have the best hooks on every track.
Quote examples
Frances McDormand
American Actress
Most women's pictures are as boring and as formulaic as men's pictures. In place of a car chase or a battle scene, what you get is an extreme closeup of a woman breaking down.
Quote examples
Emmylou Harris
American Musician
I'm nowhere with country music. I don't hear much of it, so I shouldn't venture an opinion, but when it finds me, it seems formulaic.
Quote examples
George Perez
American Writer
I find that using real people as models keeps me from getting too formulaic in the designs of characters.
Quote examples
John Sandford
American Novelist
I fear becoming formulaic. Some of my books are.
Quote examples
Christina Aguilera
American Musician
I stray away from formulaic, the formatted.
Quote examples
Octavia E. Butler
American Writer
Science fiction is not formulaic.
Quote examples
Miranda Richardson
English Actress
I like people to be surprised by the turn of events. I don't want things just to be pat and formulaic. If there's some sort of internal combustion in the character or a desire to change the way things are going, that makes for conflict, which is the essence of drama.
Quote examples
Cameron Crowe
American Director
It's more like can I build a group of characters and can I tell some universal truths that feel real and aren't formulaic in the spirit of filmmakers gone by who've told American stories that were personal and universal as well.
Quote examples
Rooney Mara
American Actress
If the entire script feels formulaic, then you know that the film will be like that. But if it's a really interesting script, and the character happens to be formulaic, then maybe there's a way of making them more interesting.
Quote examples
Nellie McKay
American Musician
I don't listen to much rap, really. I can rarely listen to a whole record of it, because musically, it's very formulaic, and oftentimes it doesn't have the best hooks on every track.
Quote examples
Frances McDormand
American Actress
Most women's pictures are as boring and as formulaic as men's pictures. In place of a car chase or a battle scene, what you get is an extreme closeup of a woman breaking down.
Quote examples
Emmylou Harris
American Musician
I'm nowhere with country music. I don't hear much of it, so I shouldn't venture an opinion, but when it finds me, it seems formulaic.
Quote examples
George Perez
American Writer
I find that using real people as models keeps me from getting too formulaic in the designs of characters.
Quote examples
John Sandford
American Novelist
I fear becoming formulaic. Some of my books are.
Quote examples
Christina Aguilera
American Musician
I stray away from formulaic, the formatted.
Quote examples
Octavia E. Butler
American Writer
Science fiction is not formulaic.
Example 1 of 10
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