as in stereotype
an idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation
the generalization that children who like violent entertainment grow up to be violent criminals
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of generalization
If there are any generalizations to be made about how different areas raise different types of players, Latson is qualified to make them.
—
Rebecca Shore Winn, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
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, 13 Feb. 2026
They're exhausted by the constant airing of grievances having little to do with what's actually going on in the country, and by the broad generalizations about, well, everything, that ignore context, nuance and facts to promote a political viewpoint.
—Brenda Looper, Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for generalization
Rebecca Shore Winn, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
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, 13 Feb. 2026
They're exhausted by the constant airing of grievances having little to do with what's actually going on in the country, and by the broad generalizations about, well, everything, that ignore context, nuance and facts to promote a political viewpoint.
—Brenda Looper, Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for generalization
Recent Examples of Synonyms for generalization
Noun
-
Despite persistent stereotypes, Japan hasn’t widely embraced the idea of robots as friends.—
Catherine Thorbecke,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
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Treating rap lyrics as diary entries minimizes their artistic value while playing on negative racial stereotypes to influence jurors, experts say.—
Maria Sherman,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Five filmmakers were each awarded a $10,000 production grant to produce a short film based on an original concept that explores the Italian American experience.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2026
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The yoga platform looking out over the Himalayan range through lofty pines gives a fresh resonance to the concept of a mountain pose asana and to bhramari, honey-bee breathing exercises taken with the actual insect community humming vibrantly around the ears.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Perhaps the notion appealed to nineteenth-century tastes for cuckoo clocks and ideas about mechanistic, orderly nature.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
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That Niall finds Ruben so alluring is natural to Gadd, who believes the notion of a valiant male figure has been bred into everyone via fables and fairy tales.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Thriller’s conception is rendered as excitingly—if hokily—as anyone could ask for.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
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When Vacheron Constantin launched the Overseas collection three decades ago, the models embodied the more than 270-year-old maison’s conception of an elegant traveling chronograph — rooted in the spirit of exploration and openness to the world.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Stirs some theories, too, about said coach’s real feelings about the pick.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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In a new book, Geoff Kelly traces how the artworks moved through criminal networks, where violence took the lives of key suspects and witnesses, and challenges long-circulating theories by revisiting key details.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Generalization.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/generalization. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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