conventional wisdom

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 The entrepreneurs making real money aren't following conventional wisdom. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026 To Reed and other political professionals, the answer seemed rooted, in part, in Obama’s willingness to ignore conventional wisdom about how campaigns ought to be run. Charles Duhigg, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026 But available empirical evidence demonstrates that this conventional wisdom is wrong. Gregory D. Squires, Baltimore Sun, 25 Jan. 2026 At the time, Walt’s insight addressed a shortcoming in conventional wisdom, which stipulated that a balance of power was the default tendency in world politics. Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conventional wisdom
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conventional wisdom
Noun
  • Influencers like Stuckey are zealously policing any deviation from the party line.
    Hillary Rodham Clinton, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
  • The clear video evidence starkly refutes the party line.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This is a generalization, of course, and many only children are very social with other kids.
    Cynthia Hanson, Parents, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Those decisions remain governed by statute and must be based on individualized assessments, not generalizations.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The most commonplace and the most concerning, as a consequence, come by way of phishing campaigns.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • The 1945 War Brides Act largely diverged from these previous measures, helping to dismantle the Asian exclusion made commonplace in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
    Anna Storti, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • His passion for cinema is driven by a need to center the Hawaiian perspective, reclaiming narratives and dismantling long-standing stereotypes.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The shows — which contend with stereotypes aimed at Black communities, racial injustice, and resilience and hope in the face of violence — all center on community engagement.
    Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Adding a creatine monohydrate supplement to your routine is the most effective way to increase body and muscle stores of creatine to reap creatine’s health benefits.
    Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Think of it as future-proofing your travel routine—at prices that are too good to ignore.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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