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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of generic
What may sound like a generic inspirational tale is, in execution, an honest journey to self-acceptance, with Bell delivering a refreshingly honest performance as a character worth rooting for.
—
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Feb. 2026
Lauren Saab adds that any sign with generic greetings tends to make an entry feel forced.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 22 Feb. 2026
The Adult Correctional Institutions gets a nod by its ACI nickname; South Kingstown's Broad Rock Road is mentioned in a GPS driving scene along a generic country road; and Narrow River, which flows through Narragansett, South Kingstown and North Kingstown, plays a central role.
—Paul Edward Parker, The Providence Journal, 20 Feb. 2026
The decision to end production of Rocephin in Switzerland reflects rising manufacturing costs, falling prices, and intensifying generic competition.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for generic
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Feb. 2026
Lauren Saab adds that any sign with generic greetings tends to make an entry feel forced.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 22 Feb. 2026
The Adult Correctional Institutions gets a nod by its ACI nickname; South Kingstown's Broad Rock Road is mentioned in a GPS driving scene along a generic country road; and Narrow River, which flows through Narragansett, South Kingstown and North Kingstown, plays a central role.
—Paul Edward Parker, The Providence Journal, 20 Feb. 2026
The decision to end production of Rocephin in Switzerland reflects rising manufacturing costs, falling prices, and intensifying generic competition.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for generic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for generic
Adjective
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And there is a general lack of a clear approach.—
Philipp Lahm,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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Major rainfall in December and early February created ideal breeding conditions, said Susanne Kluh, general manager for the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The best recent example of this rule is the green energy industry (solar and wind power), which has been heavily boosted with taxpayer dollars for almost 50 years now and is still an inconsequential form of overall energy supply.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
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Conte’s prediction that the Premier League’s overall level would increase and that complacent clubs would plummet down the table has come to pass.—
Dan Kilpatrick,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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What does the phrase squeaky bum time, the racehorse Devon Loch, and the Portuguese proverb ‘morrer na prais’ all have in common?—
Ian Irving,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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Living spaces From the ceilings to the floors, there are ample spaces for dirt to hide in common living spaces.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Lock In Pricing In Winter Price increases are often announced at the beginning of the mowing season in March, though this isn't universal.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026
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House leadership prefers to defer more universal regulations over the field to the federal government.—
Jim Turner,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Generic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/generic. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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