as in cliché
an idea or expression that has been used by many people
a screenplay that reads like a catalog of mystery-thriller tropes the narrative trope of two rival characters falling in love by the end of the story
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Recent Examples of trope
While this trope can take on a sexist tinge, considering many men use it to mock, criticize, or dismiss legitimate female frustration (or even pain), there is definitely some truth to the idea that women can experience changes in appetite in the days leading up to that time of the month.
—
Caroline Tien, SELF, 25 Feb. 2026
That unlikely combo provides a compelling opportunity for DiCaprio to sample a few lines of indigenous dialogue with his character’s offspring, and suggests a unique complication of the traditional cowboys-and-Indians trope through a revisionist lens.
—Eric Kohn, IndieWire, 25 Feb. 2026
Lee was part of Champion’s vision of a central trope of scene-stealing actors who somehow manage a balancing act, playing brilliantly off one another.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
Viral essays are tapping into fears of robots turning on their creators—a trope dating back centuries—rather than elucidating present economic conditions.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trope
Caroline Tien, SELF, 25 Feb. 2026
That unlikely combo provides a compelling opportunity for DiCaprio to sample a few lines of indigenous dialogue with his character’s offspring, and suggests a unique complication of the traditional cowboys-and-Indians trope through a revisionist lens.
—Eric Kohn, IndieWire, 25 Feb. 2026
Lee was part of Champion’s vision of a central trope of scene-stealing actors who somehow manage a balancing act, playing brilliantly off one another.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
Viral essays are tapping into fears of robots turning on their creators—a trope dating back centuries—rather than elucidating present economic conditions.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trope
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trope
Noun
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The play isn’t subtle; the final sequence leans hard on truisms about addiction and trauma, which are affecting but overly explicit.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2026
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One of the truisms in the past for Team Canada at some best-on-best events is needing a few games to find its game.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The most commonplace and the most concerning, as a consequence, come by way of phishing campaigns.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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The 1945 War Brides Act largely diverged from these previous measures, helping to dismantle the Asian exclusion made commonplace in the 19th and early 20th centuries.—
Anna Storti,
The Conversation,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Many use cases are still being deployed or piloted, and the agency’s AI database is filled with jargon and platitudes that, in many instances, can be interpreted in multiple ways.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
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Google is famous for dodging questions by reciting platitudes on its calls.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trope.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trope. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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