as in general
belonging or relating to the whole
a love of big things—big cars, big meals—seems to be a generic trait of the American people
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Recent Examples of generic
This helps make sure that AI is tuned into your personal travel style and goals, and won’t just offer you a generic experience.
—
Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
As for the taste, Elphaba is like a Bath & Body Works candle, Glinda like a generic berry cereal.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
In his master lecture at the Warren Wilson Low Residency M.F.A. program in Swannanoa, N.C., in January, 1989, Grossman expressed two generic sources (or two poles) metaphorically by drawing from Greek mythology, defining one pole as the Orphic and the other the Philomelic.
—Douglas Unger
august 29, Literary Hub, 29 Aug. 2025
When the early Superman stories were more widely republished, Cleveland was retroactively renamed Metropolis, but the generic city retained a particularly personal flavor.
—Big Think, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for generic
Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
As for the taste, Elphaba is like a Bath & Body Works candle, Glinda like a generic berry cereal.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
In his master lecture at the Warren Wilson Low Residency M.F.A. program in Swannanoa, N.C., in January, 1989, Grossman expressed two generic sources (or two poles) metaphorically by drawing from Greek mythology, defining one pole as the Orphic and the other the Philomelic.
—Douglas Unger
august 29, Literary Hub, 29 Aug. 2025
When the early Superman stories were more widely republished, Cleveland was retroactively renamed Metropolis, but the generic city retained a particularly personal flavor.
—Big Think, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for generic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for generic
Adjective
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How Often To Clean Linoleum Floors For general cleaning, Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, recommends removing dust and debris in high-traffic areas daily using a dry microfiber mop.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025
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Remember to label, date, and mark each soil sample with the general location where it was collected.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Rookie Ashton Gillotte provided some juice in his limited snaps, but that wasn’t nearly enough to make up for an overall disappointing night for the defensive line.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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Here, these dishes are prepared with less sauce (not a bad thing) and overall salt than at Taipei South, despite having the same ownership.—
Shindy Chen,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Perhaps this summer’s most common complainants have been Aston Villa.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
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Eggs, fish and a healthy dose of vegetables are also common threads throughout the menu.—
Sophie Carson,
jsonline.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This approach draws inspiration from universal ethical principles that have guided human societies across cultures and millennia.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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There is, in fact, one universal symbol that appears in the artwork of every religion in history.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Generic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/generic. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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