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Definition of commonplacenext
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commonplace

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noun

as in cliché
an idea or expression that has been used by many people the familiar summertime commonplace that "It's not the heat, it's the humidity"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 commonplace
Adjective
The two-week turnaround from the Derby to the Preakness, which used to be commonplace, is considered a nonstarter for many trainers and owners given that most elite thoroughbreds now typically go a month or more between races. Stephen Whyno, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026 Yet cross-cultural influence continues to be a key subject of art history, and quotation is still a commonplace practice in contemporary art. Glenn Adamson, Artforum, 2 May 2026
Noun
The department was being assisted by a number of other state, local and federal agencies in the investigation, something Butler stated as commonplace for such cases. Shelly Conlon, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 23 Mar. 2026 Such double-headers are far from commonplace in English football, but are becoming more frequent. Gregg Evans, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for commonplace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commonplace
Adjective
  • That means less cement per meter—on this bridge roughly 40% less concrete—while still reaching normal strength.
    Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026
  • One patient retained normal core disgust reactivity but could no longer recognize disgust in others’ faces; another with anterior insula damage showed dysregulation in both producing and experiencing disgust.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Adjective
  • But Araki has shaded in the margins masterfully, with vivid supporting turns by Chase Sui Wonders, Daveed Diggs and the now-ubiquitous Charli XCX.
    Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
  • The once ubiquitous Bed Bath & Beyond, with its blue coupon mailers and newspaper inserts, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023, and shuttered stores nationwide.
    Howard Cohen May 14, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
Adjective
  • Kelly Enders-Tharp, a three-time surrogate and education and experience specialist at Growing Generations, explains that surrogates are often stereotyped, or that their backgrounds are misrepresented.
    Kris Ann Valdez, Parents, 13 Feb. 2026
  • 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
Adjective
  • By evening, the Aries Moon moves through your 9th House of Expansion, stirring adventure, passion, and plans that stretch beyond the ordinary.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 May 2026
  • But there is a big difference between ordinary political competition and a coordinated national effort to purge state lawmakers for exercising independent judgment on a matter before their own legislature.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Adjective
  • The irony is that Ashby was the stand-in for France’s usual wing trimmer, the British sailor Leigh McMillan, who is still recovering from an injury at the Auckland SailGP event in February.
    Andrew Rice, New York Times, 11 May 2026
  • But Brunson, as usual, was sublime, wrong-footing the 76ers over and over with his staccato moves and magnetized shots.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • The film, which stars Hannah Einbinder as a filmmaker tasked with revamping a tired summer camp horror franchise with its cryptic lead played by Gillian Anderson in tow, is set to make its way to theaters this August.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
  • Each day, after teaching classes for a local extension office, taking online courses and caring for everyone, Denise is just tired.
    Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • His deep arsenal gives him a chance to handle a truism of the craft.
    Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 8 May 2026
  • Ever since, intelligence officers have ruefully invoked that truism whenever they’re blamed for a major screwup.
    Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The typical lifespan of a tire pressure monitoring sensor (TPMS) battery is about 7–10 years.
    Hartford Courant, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
  • At NBCUniversal’s upfront on May 11, as has become typical for this time of year, Bravo flooded the zone.
    Kate Aurthur, Variety, 11 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Commonplace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commonplace. Accessed 17 May. 2026.

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