For example, answering the question "what is this?" with an overly literal response.The word I am trying to remember would be used in the phrase "Not to be XXX but unexpected events are unexpected. That's why we didn't expect it." (The word isn't 'tautological' or 'redundant')
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could it be "blunt"?– CowperKettleCommented Dec 29, 2015 at 2:31
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See english.stackexchange.com/questions/257591/…– Hot LicksCommented Dec 29, 2015 at 3:06
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See english.stackexchange.com/questions/11087/…– Hot LicksCommented Dec 29, 2015 at 3:07
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I liked Captain Obvious on that page. Hope I remember it when there is an occasion for it.– R.S.Commented Dec 29, 2015 at 9:33
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If it amounts to restating essentially the same thing in a different way, or with different words - then it is a tautology.– WS2Commented Dec 29, 2015 at 10:29
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4 Answers
I might go with trivial, which means "simple, transparent, or immediately evident" (sense 4b, here).
- "Not to be trivial, but unexpected events, are, well, unexpected."
But I don't think this captures your case of answering "What is this?" with an overly literal response.
I would suggest axiomatic:
self-evident; obvious
Vacuous: "having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless."
Your statement, "unexpected events are unexpected" might be called vacuously true if in a mathematics context.
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It also has the sense of completely devoid of content, which I think is what is being asked for.– Al MakiCommented Jan 28, 2016 at 21:44
An overly literal response would be 'pedantic'.
