formulaic

adjective

for·mu·la·ic ˌfȯr-myə-ˈlā-ik

Synonyms of formulaic next

: produced according to a formula or set of formulas : adhering to set forms or conventions

a formulaic response

a movie with a formulaic plot

… much of the will's language was formulaic, in accordance with Venetian customs.—

Laurence Bergreen

The film … uses simple, formulaic storytelling to spin the tale of Bella, a rescued pit bull who makes her way home after a two-year walkabout.—

Katie Walsh

: of or relating to a mathematical formula

Those projections prompted the department to evaluate the state tax withholding tables. In September, the department found the formulaic error that had apparently been there, undetected, for at least 15 years.—

Kathryn Palmer

formulaically

ˌfȯr-myə-ˈlā-ə-k(ə-)lē

adverb

… his songs still stick formulaically to the surface of pop entertainments. —

David Sargent

The price of admission to local social functions is often expressed formulaically as 'Gentlemen $2, ladies a plate', meaning a plate of scones or the like. —

Robert Burchfield

Examples of formulaic in a Sentence

she thought the plots of most action movies were pretty formulaic

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

While the online consensus was that the gifts were redundant and of minimal practical value, the biggest argument was that there was no skincare, makeup or other actual formulaic products. —

Dahvi Shira, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024 There, its formulaic approach to writing received a more mixed reception: A regimented education that prioritizes structure over creativity helps kids learn how to take tests, but not actually write, critical parents and teachers say. —

Megan Sauer, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2024 No, the real fierce competition here is between everything distinctive and everything formulaic about this movie. —

A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024 Indeed, the main trouble here is that the material is formulaic without being particularly funny or touching within those confines, its stabs at quirkiness seldom developed in a way this capable cast can take flight with. —

Dennis Harvey, Variety, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for formulaic