commonplace 1 of 2

Definition of commonplacenext
1
2
3

commonplace

2 of 2

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
Bodyboarders and surfers haven’t historically gotten along, especially in the ’80s, when conflicts in the water were commonplace. Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026 Clay Ornaments Clay creations are commonplace on Christmas trees, but they should be kept clear of attics. Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
Ion gauges are relatively cheap (under US $1,000) and commonplace. IEEE Spectrum, 24 Sep. 2025 Talking about struggles, both past and present, can make the conversation commonplace and combat some of the fear that may fester in an indecisive personality. Janine Schindler, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for commonplace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commonplace
Adjective
  • Anger, relief, anxiety, numbness, shame—all of these are normal reactions.
    Cynthia Pong, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
  • Bus routes and train lines will run on a Sunday schedule as normal.
    Chilekasi Adele, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The ubiquitous appeal of the style has challenged underwear designers to find ways to reduce the potential for creasing and make even a full-coverage design undetectable.
    Abby Morgan Lebet, InStyle, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Self-storage is one of those classic invisible but ubiquitous industries—the overflow of life needs to go somewhere, and there are a lot of people in the world.
    Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
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
Adjective
  • Filming the stairs and seeing the response affirmed that her experience was, in fact, out of the ordinary.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
  • That means ordinary users cannot easily guess when Gen AI is reliable.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • As usual, Coon thrives in ambiguity, layering a seemingly straightforward woman with depth.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026
  • As a result, Musick elected to bench her usual rotation for much of the second half.
    Ethan Westerman, Arkansas Online, 8 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
  • 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
Adjective
  • The company intends to move away from the low-volume manufacturing typical of the aviation industry.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026
  • The project could also bypass typical rezoning requirements, allowing building to occur in agricultural and natural areas.
    Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Commonplace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commonplace. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on commonplace

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!