trope

Definition of tropenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of trope In that episode, there is a very direct conversation about tropes and specifically the crazy-ex-girlfriend trope regarding Arthur’s ex, Narcissa, played by Anna Camp. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 June 2026 And ultimately, the premise of the show is insane horror tropes are happening to boring, normal people. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2026 Readers can expect plenty of twists and turns in the novel, Sharma promises, including a dead body, a yearning love interest and the classic one-bed trope. Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026 Reynolds distilled the script down to feature length, keeping the iconic tropes of the genre like the prom, the school play, finals, and graduation all intact. Matthew Huff, IndieWire, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for trope
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trope
Noun
  • This is certainly true—and a rather banal truism.
    The Atlantic, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
  • Rick Jackson is testing that truism in his campaign for Georgia governor.
    Jesse Bedayn, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • Wolff was only the eighth woman to drive a Formula 1 car (four more have done it since); the role, a now-commonplace one that includes driving the simulator during Grand Prix weekends to inform trackside strategy, was created for her.
    Danielle McNally, InStyle, 28 May 2026
  • The videos are often integrated into larger montages of drone strikes, underscoring how commonplace these drones have become for Russian forces.
    Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
Noun
  • There’s passable yet indistinguishable music in this exact style dropping every day, but the difference with Chicago’s Fatso is that his lyrics feel like scraps of conversations that communicate his hurt without leaning on platitudes.
    Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 24 June 2026
  • Victor Lindelof’s pre-match comments smacked of bombast and confidence, the sort of words which are said but not meant, platitudes used to motivate rather than to be sworn under oath.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 15 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trope.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trope. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on trope

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster