Hackneyed like some ancient rites (5)
I believe the answer is:
trite
'hackneyed' is the definition.
(I know that hackneyed can be written as trite)
'some ancient rites' is the wordplay.
'some' says the answer is hidden in the clue (some of the parts of the word are used).
'TRITE' is hidden within 'ancient rites'.
'like' is the link.
(Other definitions for trite that I've seen before include "Commonplace, hackneyed" , "Overfamiliar through overuse" , "all vigour is gone" , "Stock" , "Banal, commonplace" .)