stereotypes 1 of 2

Definition of stereotypesnext
plural of stereotype
as in notions
an idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation the noble savage was a stereotype that appealed to 18th-century intellectuals, who viewed European civilization as decadent and corrupt

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stereotypes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of stereotype
as in overuses
to use so much as to make less appealing Movies have stereotyped the domineering mother-in-law ad nauseam.

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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 stereotypes
Noun
In this case, some of the false storylines included racist stereotypes. Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026 Some false versions even included problematic stereotypes. Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026 Some false versions of the story even included problematic stereotypes, making the spread more than just harmless fun. Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026 Over the next hour, Mai spoke candidly about things like the fear of losing her vocal ability while pregnant, reframed Scorpio stereotypes, and how a handwritten card can mean more than a Birkin. Jamila Mustafa, VIBE.com, 25 Mar. 2026 The Black characters that appeared on-screen closely resembled the clownish stereotypes popularized by the minstrels. Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026 Recycling the stereotypes of the past Elizabeth Le Hot, the CEO of France’s Adami who has previously written a report on AI for the French culture ministry, was far more critical of the influence of AI and short-form on stereotypes. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026 In recent years, Lyons has amassed nearly 1 million followers on Instagram and half a million on TikTok for his hilarious impersonations of outdoor recreation stereotypes. Frederick Dreier, Outside, 24 Mar. 2026 But that shift is still recent, and decades of cultural baggage — from sexist slasher stereotypes to schlocky late-night programming — continue to shape perception. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 Mar. 2026
Verb
The Coalition for Faith and Media, in partnership with HarrisX, recently launched a research study that found 70% of Americans believe Hollywood stereotypes faith, while 82% say film and TV should prioritize portraying more accurate and complex portrayals of faith and religion. Antonio Ferme, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026 But while working mom and trad wife stereotypes reign online and in popular culture, many moms fall somewhere in between those two tropes. Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025 These words have different meanings in the context of AAVE, some say, and using them in a way that appropriates or stereotypes certain people groups strips away the importance of the original definitions. Mia Thurow, jsonline.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stereotypes
Noun
  • Nearly 100 years later, her predecessor, present-day Schiaparelli creative director Daniel Roseberry, has picked up her mantle, combining thrilling design with the machinery of celebrity to change our notions of female beauty and power.
    Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Calculus relies on the notions of infinity and infinitely small quantities (called infinitesimals), but Newton and Leibniz defined these concepts in vague geometric terms; used incorrectly, their formulas could lead to nonsensical calculations, like division by zero.
    Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • That’s important, since many people make the mistake—both in the gym and daily life—of shrugging their shoulders up to their ears, which overuses the upper traps and elevates the scapula.
    Jenny McCoy, SELF, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • However, as Rothbard lays out, one of the most important concepts that often gets lost or forgotten in the fog of war is that violence may only be used to resist or punish the aggressor.
    Connor Okeeffe, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Health concepts such as Modern Market Eatery and Saladworks have recently entered the KC market.
    Jenna Thompson March 28, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • For instance, if a textbook bores you, try watching a documentary!
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The invasive beetle bores into wood and kills ash trees by eating tissues under the bark.
    Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Second, however, at the chasm between the Framers’ conceptions of Presidential war power and the unbounded nature of that authority today.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Rising above material needs, our current conceptions of class, identity, and climate will shift radically.
    Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • As the oil blockade quickly exhausts Cuba’s supply of fuel, triggering a series of lengthy, island-wide blackouts, many here are exhausted and are becoming increasingly vocal about their desire for fundamental changes in Cuba.
    Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Board member Nicole Gribstad also urged the committee to include an option that delays such a decision and exhausts all other financial alternatives before closing schools.
    Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026

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“Stereotypes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stereotypes. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

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