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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
Standardized testing became commonplace in the latter half of the 20th century as a way to hold schools accountable for education outcomes and to create transparency for parents. Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026 Why Bruno Mars is a musical unicorn To wax rhapsodic about Mars as an executor of charm is commonplace. Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
Such double-headers are far from commonplace in English football, but are becoming more frequent. Gregg Evans, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026 The most commonplace and the most concerning, as a consequence, come by way of phishing campaigns. Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for commonplace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commonplace
Adjective
  • Calls to the ships’ operators outside normal working hours either weren’t answered or weren’t immediately returned.
    Julian Lee, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Sanoja has primarily played third base this season, with seven of his nine starts coming there, but his last two starts came in center field on Thursday (to give normal starter Jakob Marsee his first day off from the field) and left field on Friday.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • This ubiquitous technology came from our understanding of quantum physics.
    Big Think, Big Think, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Android Android cellphones have become as ubiquitous as iPhones in modern years, but the company didn’t start out in the phone game.
    Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 23 Apr. 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
  • Some people don’t believe the current players support the ordinary people.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
  • The price of Celsius crypto would go up, but it was being manipulated by those in charge, all as a way to get ordinary citizens to invest.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Gunther's Ice Cream remained open as usual on Saturday following a fire that happened just outside the Sacramento staple.
    Richard Ramos, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Many of you might be more involved than usual with a parent.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • However, his attempts to introduce a more aggressive man-for-man pressing style also place higher physical demands on already tired players.
    Cerys Jones, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Even the film’s critic-defying, pinky-swearing fanbase may be disappointed in the barebones production, jarring plotting, tired dialogue and ham-handed staging.
    Frank Rizzo, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Ever since, intelligence officers have ruefully invoked that truism whenever they’re blamed for a major screwup.
    Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2026
  • But, travel experts say, that truism doesn't apply during this tumultuous period.
    ANDREA SACHS THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • My apprenticeship began with a simple disassembly, a typical exercise for new employees.
    Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Frazier described a typical pricing cycle pattern, noting that spot prices move first, before highway contract rates follow suit with a three-to-six-month lag.
    Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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