variants
also cliches
as in tropes
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
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 clichés
The drama veers from the usual sports-movie cliches by exploring mental health and eating disorders with a dose of psychological horror.
—
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
New novels are rightly praised for breaking with traditional forms and criticized for turning to stale formulas and cliches.
—Nathaniel Moore
september 10, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025
Just really not going to sit here and give some cliches.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 6 Sep. 2025
Of course, some cliches are nothing but lazy thinking.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2025
In fact, natural is the word to sum up Chapman, a host who, like Artie Bucco, could be described as warm and convivial, who rarely fails to ask piercing questions devoid of cliches and has a relaxed but authoritative style.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is unflinchingly intense in every aspect, yet it's informed by alove of music, a love of the healing power of the human voice, and a sense of self-respect that transcends the cliches of hip-hop and contemporary R&B.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Dropping cliches and stereotypes in the name of showcasing the caste violence in actions and words does not quite bring the authenticity.
—Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
New novels are rightly praised for breaking with traditional forms and criticized for turning to stale formulas and cliches.
—Nathaniel Moore
september 10, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025
Just really not going to sit here and give some cliches.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 6 Sep. 2025
Of course, some cliches are nothing but lazy thinking.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2025
In fact, natural is the word to sum up Chapman, a host who, like Artie Bucco, could be described as warm and convivial, who rarely fails to ask piercing questions devoid of cliches and has a relaxed but authoritative style.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is unflinchingly intense in every aspect, yet it's informed by alove of music, a love of the healing power of the human voice, and a sense of self-respect that transcends the cliches of hip-hop and contemporary R&B.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Dropping cliches and stereotypes in the name of showcasing the caste violence in actions and words does not quite bring the authenticity.
—Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clichés
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
Noun
-
The sample is going to be used to make generalizations about everybody, Turow said, by using complex statistical modeling and artificial intelligence.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
10 Dec. 2025
-
Walz said in a press conference on Thursday that his office is working to bring those involved in fraud in Minnesota to justice, but said it can be done without generalizations about a whole group of people.—
Tesfaye Negussie,
ABC News,
8 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Throughout all of Lowe’s platitudes and boosterism, my attention was rapt, and my mind never wandered.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
18 Dec. 2025
-
After, Sutton Stracke offered platitudes while answering questions about her fractured relationships with ex-assistant Avi Gabay and Garcelle Beauvais.—
Vulture Editors,
Vulture,
14 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
But the movie’s soft-hearted underbelly fails to support that reading, and by the time the story finally arrives at its final moments, the unsparing cynicism that supplied its initial lift has been dragged back down to Earth by the weight of bland truisms.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As far back as the Victorian era, exchanging a few banalities was part of a veritable social code—a way of signaling both politeness and boundaries.—
Jeanne Ballion,
Vogue,
27 Dec. 2025
-
Written by Noah Oppenheim, Bigelow’s real-time thriller about the banalities and actualities of a fictional-in-premise-only nuclear attack on the United States is Netflix’s best horse in the race at the Oscars this year.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The 2023 article was based on findings shared with CNN by international non-profit Global Witness, which investigated Facebook’s job ads and found that ads in the Netherlands and five other countries often targeted users based on historical gender stereotypes.—
Carlotta Dotto,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Rolling Stone spoke with two scholars who explain that the clips, overwhelmingly targeting Black women, play on decades-old stereotypes used to slander welfare recipients.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
There is a reason why the apocalyptic bromides about the state of print haven’t come to fruition, other than for disposable periodicals and newspapers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Nov. 2025
-
These films explore those bonds without ever resorting to bromides or mawkishness.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
From chestnuts literally roasting on an open fire in the rain to a string quartet raising money for a mission trip decked in Victorian-era clothing, and hot chocolate being sold, the Victorian Christmas in Nevada City has been bringing visitors to this era since 1978.—
Charlie Lapastora,
CBS News,
22 Dec. 2025
-
But chestnuts provide more vitamin C and may also be a better choice for people looking to limit their fat intake.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
16 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clichés.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clich%C3%A9s. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share