commonplace 1 of 2

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
Baldwin said creating elaborate marketing centers to sell suites and seats is pretty commonplace for new NFL stadiums, but not so much in the MLS. Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026 Winning another San Diego Section wrestling title, both boys and girls, has become commonplace for Poway coach John Meyers. Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
Plot details are under wraps, but that's commonplace for a Perkins project. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Nov. 2025 Ion gauges are relatively cheap (under US $1,000) and commonplace. IEEE Spectrum, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for commonplace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commonplace
Adjective
  • Above normal precipitation chances are also expected to continue into the second week of the month, according to the Climate Prediction Center.
    Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
  • While some initial tingling is normal, rest assured that aloe vera, honey, and vitamin E soothe and add moisture back into the skin—great news for those whose skin errs on the drier side.
    Annie Blackman, Allure, 28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Viewed from the street, the house actually is pretty unremarkable — a mid-size, split-level, midcentury ranch house, built in a style that became pretty ubiquitous in the California suburbs in the post-World War II era.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Gambling is ubiquitous in Illinois, and it is projected to expand dramatically, especially among the vulnerable young.
    Jim Nowlan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 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
  • Short-term capital gains — profits on assets held for a year or less — face ordinary income tax rates, which range from 10% to 37%.
    Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
  • The film, now nominated for an Oscar, presents seemingly ordinary rooms that families have turned into sacred spaces, preserving them for years as a way to process grief.
    Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • But as Israel closed checkpoints to the movement of people and goods on Saturday, gas stations saw longer-than-usual lines as residents filled spare canisters in case of supply disruptions.
    CLAUDIA CIOBANU, Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2026
  • Everyone’s hearts are closer to the surface than usual, so being tolerant of one another’s idiosyncrasies could be necessary to avoid strife.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Simmons said Tarrant families are tired of O’Hare’s bullying, silencing and antics.
    Rachel Royster March 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026
  • His poor metrics are the result of the Panthers looking tired and worn down in front of him, and Bobrovsky not being consistently at his absolute best.
    Jesse Granger, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The play isn’t subtle; the final sequence leans hard on truisms about addiction and trauma, which are affecting but overly explicit.
    Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2026
  • One of the truisms in the past for Team Canada at some best-on-best events is needing a few games to find its game.
    Pierre LeBrun, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The Supreme Court seemed likely Monday to loosen a federal law that bars marijuana users from owning guns in a case that crossed typical political lines.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
  • And the median career length of a typical MLB player is just three years.
    Paul Bledsoe, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Commonplace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commonplace. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.

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