shibboleth

Definition of shibbolethnext
1
as in slogan
an attention-getting word or phrase used to publicize something (as a campaign or product) we knew that their claim of giving "the best deal in town" was just a shibboleth

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2
as in cliché
an idea or expression that has been used by many people there's a lot of truth in the shibboleth that if you give some people an inch, they'll take a mile

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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 shibboleth In a North Hollywood podcast studio last week, Gill Tejada and his co-host, Boo Boo, trashed liberal shibboleths, like any good Trumpers. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024 As far back as 2015, when all of Washington was under the influence of unfettered free-trade shibboleths, Trump warned about the dangers of economic dependencies, built up over decades of liberalization, that could be exploited for geopolitical leverage. Andrew Byers, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2024 Musk’s willingness to upend auto manufacturing shibboleths has also forced his legacy competitors to seek new efficiencies. WIRED, 21 Sep. 2023 Nothing is sacrificed to the shibboleth of good taste. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023 See All Example Sentences for shibboleth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shibboleth
Noun
  • This slogan reflects the luxury brand’s focus on creating a specialized, relaxing, and personalized driving experience, highlighting the connection between the driver and their vehicle.
    Tony Leopardo, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
  • In Madrid, thousands chanted slogans against the war and expressed solidarity with civilians affected by the conflict.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • At one of the suburb’s busiest intersections, people lined the sidewalks holding handmade signs and banners as traffic rolled steadily past.
    Jodi Bondi Norgaard, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Sources tell Deadline that Brandon Sklenar has signed a first-look deal with Lionsgate to produce feature films through his Vista Lane Pictures banner.
    Justin Kroll, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • That is a truism of NFL free agency.
    Daniel Popper, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
  • The play isn’t subtle; the final sequence leans hard on truisms about addiction and trauma, which are affecting but overly explicit.
    Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Well, Texas is good on offense and little else, and to his credit Miller isn't hiding behind platitudes about where this thing can go one day or what must happen over these next few weeks.
    Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Li shook hands with Whitmarsh and exchanged platitudes with the other guests.
    Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Despite their clear affection for these women, the Dardenne brothers never sugarcoat their characters’ unenviable circumstance or latch onto phony bromides to alleviate our anxiety.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
  • Doping the Undopable The work focuses on cesium lead bromide nanoparticles known as CsPbBr3.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • All the usual tropes would seem to be present and accounted for.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Jones’s novels derive much of their richness from her striking capacity to use literary and cultural tropes that may seem outmoded to new ends.
    Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Such double-headers are far from commonplace in English football, but are becoming more frequent.
    Gregg Evans, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The most commonplace and the most concerning, as a consequence, come by way of phishing campaigns.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The case exposed the depressing banality of it all—the man smiling politely at you at the bakery, only to rape your comatose body at night.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Mar. 2026
  • The scale and range of Dominique Pelicot’s partners in crime showed the terrible banality of their acts, and how easily society had allowed them.
    Gaby Wood, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shibboleth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shibboleth. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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