variants
also cliche
as in stereotyped
used or heard so often as to be dull
a cliché tale of lust and betrayal among the fabulously rich
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also cliche
as in generalization
an idea or expression that has been used by many people
try to write a love story without resorting to well-worn clichés
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cliché
Noah White, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2026
Never work with kids or animals, the Hollywood cliche goes.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 14 Jan. 2026
The best songs use Natanya’s dense web of ideas to reflect on opaque emotions that stubbornly refuse to be reduced to cliche.
—H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 13 Jan. 2026
Guttural noises aside, Romo was also called out for his use of cliches and what some said were obvious calls.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Their love scene in the rain, while obviously less visually spectacular than in the film, plunges headlong into romantic cliches that manage to get the job done despite their obviousness.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
What sports or politics cliche resonates the most with you?
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 22 Dec. 2025
People want stories — that’s a cliche for a reason.
—Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
Along with the small-town cliche of secrets abounding, there are fresh touches that add whimsy to this story of two families entwined through times of peace and war.
—The Know, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
Noun
So, as media day unfolded Saturday, the coach offered a flow of cliches and sayings.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2026
Never work with kids or animals, the Hollywood cliche goes.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 14 Jan. 2026
The best songs use Natanya’s dense web of ideas to reflect on opaque emotions that stubbornly refuse to be reduced to cliche.
—H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 13 Jan. 2026
Guttural noises aside, Romo was also called out for his use of cliches and what some said were obvious calls.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Their love scene in the rain, while obviously less visually spectacular than in the film, plunges headlong into romantic cliches that manage to get the job done despite their obviousness.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
What sports or politics cliche resonates the most with you?
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 22 Dec. 2025
People want stories — that’s a cliche for a reason.
—Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
Along with the small-town cliche of secrets abounding, there are fresh touches that add whimsy to this story of two families entwined through times of peace and war.
—The Know, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliché
Adjective
-
Later, Lenape artist Joe Baker places cutout photographs of his ancestors over the stereotyped images of Native Americans found in the wallpaper.—
Tom McDonough,
Artforum,
1 Nov. 2025
-
Several leaders described the pressure of being both highly visible and easily stereotyped.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
Noun
-
But sweeping generalizations flatten reality and do a disservice to institutions such as Roosevelt — and students such as mine.—
Ryan Gable,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Drug development depends on mechanism understanding and generalization under uncertainty.—
Lutz Finger,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The script is filled with tired tropes and doesn’t set up JayDee in a way that showcases his natural presence or way with words.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
-
LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, is downplaying the bombshell report suggesting Los Angeles Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss has grown tired of his client.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In most cases, the record holders agree to be interviewed, distilling years of experience into fairly shallow platitudes — pithy advice Green finds understandably unsatisfying.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Darveau’s wish for the university’s employees was not a holiday platitude.—
Rachel Rabkin Peachman,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This is actually better than some of the hackneyed rom-coms Reiner muddled through, a coming-of-age story about two kids’ pseudo-love story from grade school through middle school.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
16 Dec. 2025
-
On the first real mission in the jungle region of Fury Green, Samus encounters a Galactic Federation technician named Myles Mackenzie who, from his reveal in the pre-release previews, became a sticking point for fans due to his hackneyed sidekick trappings.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
2 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Warfare Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza’s Warfare is an admirable attempt to counter the truism that there’s no such thing as an anti-war movie — that all war movies, however gruesome or wrenching, effectively (and often unwittingly) wind up glamorizing combat to some degree.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
-
Kemp does warn his readers to be skeptical of truisms about the nature of history and the odds of apocalypse.—
Linda Kinstler,
The Atlantic,
1 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
There is so much pleasure to be had in rereading old favorites—and part of the joy is meeting beloved characters, who have been updated or somehow arrive in a new form to resist old tropes and types.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The other one that happens to me more regularly is seeing common tropes or scenarios from the media and tipping them just slightly on their side.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
After which, dogs and humans being buried together became commonplace.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
But the book cannot credit Boone with commonplace human thoughtfulness.—
Julius Taranto,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cliché.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clich%C3%A9. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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