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Definition of trope
1a : a word or expression used in a figurative sense : figure of speechb : a common or overused theme or device : cliché the usual horror movie tropes
2 : a phrase or verse added as an embellishment or interpolation to the sung parts of the Mass in the Middle Ages
From the M-W Editors
Examples of trope in a Sentence
a screenplay that reads like a catalog of mystery-thriller tropes
Recent Examples of trope from the Web
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Wingard is probably the buzziest director in horror right now, crafting movies that play homage to and subvert basic horror tropes—
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The sound of a crying baby on a flight is among the most overused tropes in flying.
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NEW YORK — There are no two ways around the fact that the annual draft discussion is ridden with familiar tropes.
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Every type of woman deserves to be represented on screen — not just as a trope, but as a confident person who’s grounded in herself.
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The first Black woman we’re introduced to is Diana’s caretaker, a representation which hits the Mammy trope on the head.
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Even though their show loosely taps into the dystopian trope of the AI uprising, Westworld’s co-creators don’t think the actual AI being developed right now will lead to total apocalypse.
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The faithful-slave trope was the ultimate example of southern paternalism that described the master-slave relationship as essentially familial, existing outside of market forces.
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The novel makes too much use of shopworn archetypes—a seductive housekeeper, a self-sacrificing prostitute—but Altan deftly pushes the tropes of detective fiction into existentialist territory.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'trope'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of trope
Latin tropus, from Greek tropos turn, way, manner, style, trope, from trepein to turn
Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms
TROPE Defined for English Language Learners
trope
playDefinition of trope for English Language Learners
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: a word, phrase, or image used in a new and different way in order to create an artistic effect
Learn More about trope
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See words that rhyme with trope Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for trope Nglish: Translation of trope for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of trope for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trope
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