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conventional wisdom

noun

Definition of conventional wisdomnext
as in party line
opinions or beliefs that are held or accepted by most people Conventional wisdom in Hollywood says that a movie can't succeed unless it stars a famous actor or actress.

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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 conventional wisdom That’s the conventional wisdom that, for better or worse, not all filmmakers observe when picking up the mantle of a series or franchise. — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026 But in today's unique economic climate, conventional wisdom may not always be applicable. — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 Is value therefore building in bonds, just as conventional wisdom turns against their role as a diversifier for equities? — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026 Yet conventional wisdom misses crucial dimensions of these challenges. — Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conventional wisdom
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conventional wisdom
  1. party line
  2. generalization
  3. commonplace
  4. stereotype
  5. routine
Noun
  • In a party line vote, committee Republicans pushed forward a bill that seeks to change how the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission studies Medicare Advantage spending.
    — John Wilkerson, STAT, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The best subplot involves a new, young part-time UPS worker who challenges the Teamster party line involving the UPS contract.
    — Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of party line
Noun
  • What’s bothered me, though, is how its backers have anchored their messaging around a lot of misleading generalizations about the state of college sports.
    — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Age can be as much a distortion as gender, race, class, culture, or any other generalization.
    — Gloria Steinem, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of generalization
Noun
  • Wolff was only the eighth woman to drive a Formula 1 car (four more have done it since); the role, a now-commonplace one that includes driving the simulator during Grand Prix weekends to inform trackside strategy, was created for her.
    — Danielle McNally, InStyle, 28 May 2026
  • The videos are often integrated into larger montages of drone strikes, underscoring how commonplace these drones have become for Russian forces.
    — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
Definition of commonplace
Noun
  • The stereotype of an introverted software developer, siloed in an office far removed from the rest of the organization, will become a thing of the past.
    — Alberto Lugo, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • And there is a popular stereotype out there that scientists are like these cold computers, and that has sometimes been my experience, but more often the opposite of my experience.
    — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of stereotype
Noun
  • The category has grown fast, driven by people looking for less mess, less plastic and a simpler laundry routine.
    — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Everyday routines depend on maps, banking, tickets, transit, rideshare and messaging, and completely disconnecting remains impractical for most people.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of routine

Browse Nearby Words

conventionally
conventional wisdom
conventional wisdoms
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Cite this Entry

“Conventional wisdom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conventional%20wisdom. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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