as in cliche
an idea or expression that has been used by many people
An op-ed piece that offers nothing but warmed-over chestnuts for solving the city's financial woes.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chestnut
Noun
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Together’s cast and special effects department alone could make for a substantive horror classic, but the script is freighted with distracting cliches and errant plot developments.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
31 July 2025 -
Bana embodies Kyle’s suffocating cliches with endearing commitment, his gravelly voice, gentle countenance, and steadfast capability combining to form a recognizable portrait of pride and suffering.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
17 July 2025
Noun
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In response to these criticisms, colleges and universities have offered bromides – i.e., vague ideas intended to placate, not Bromo-Seltzer which is no longer available at CVS – about building industry or employer partnerships.—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
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The same rule applies for hearing bromides about chasing dreams and believing in yourself.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2025
Noun
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That ancient proverb captures the mindset of American investors eyeing the Middle East as a global growth engine.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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A certain proverb about glass houses comes to mind.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 July 2025
Noun
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Donkey provided comic relief, pathos and friendship to Shrek, with the film praised for its humorous twist on fairy-tale tropes.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Aug. 2025
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To do so, the group used five prompts that reflected common antisemitic tropes and used the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism as a guiding principle.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The 2025 session put a bit of a wrinkle in that truism.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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Mills was reflecting on a truism of American government that is, usually, true.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
28 July 2025
Noun
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Walz seemed to agree but then retreated to platitudes.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
25 July 2025
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Every week, there’s a new example of the upside-down logic at work in the White House: platitudes that say one thing, policies that portend another.—
Heidi Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
25 July 2025
Noun
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Not necessarily the worst team, but just a season that was boring, devoid of news, etc. — Clint N. While there are a few contenders, the 2013 season stands alone for tedium and banality.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
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The costuming choices reflected the banality of the tech elites, with a few flourishes, like the bright Polaris snowmobile jumpsuits and long underwear worn in one early scene.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
30 May 2025
Noun
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As the saying goes, nobody wants to sit at the reject table.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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Of course—as the saying goes—Paris is never a bad idea, and a trip to the city isn't complete without indulging in good French cheese, hunting for vintage goods at an antique market, and people-watching at one of the outdoor cafes.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Chestnut.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chestnut. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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