1
as in slogans
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in clichés
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 shibboleths
The director scores easy laughs off of modern-day progressive shibboleths such as gender-fluid pronouns, trigger warnings and Native American land acknowledgments.
—
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shibboleths
Noun
-
Instead, a different Rubio emerged, one who appeared to see the world through the lens of America’s top diplomat, rather than a politician winning votes through anti-Castro slogans.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Mamdani’s housing agenda, so far, is built on a foundation of headlines, slogans and fiscal fantasies.—
Ann Korchak,
New York Daily News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Toronto Blue Jays are so close to Opening Day, when banners will be raised and the regular season will start again.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
-
In her new role, Barrier will oversee global communications strategy across the company’s sprawling production banners.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
One of the truisms in the past for Team Canada at some best-on-best events is needing a few games to find its game.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But when platitudes aren’t backed by action, the disparity between branding and behavior becomes impossible to ignore.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Eritrea had trounced Zanzibar to reach the semi-finals of the CECAFA Under-20 Championship — consisting of national teams from east and central African nations — when, amid the celebrations and platitudes from government officials back home, the players made their move.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Combining the tropes of the superhero genre with the police procedural genre, Powers follows two Chicago homicide detectives, Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim, who work in cases involving super powers.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Mar. 2026
-
There's all of these tropes and stereotypes about gender roles and women's roles in particular, especially in Victorian times, that would automatically align women's work as being within the household.—
Mariel Carr,
Scientific American,
20 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
-
There is a reason why the apocalyptic bromides about the state of print haven’t come to fruition, other than for disposable periodicals and newspapers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
As far back as the Victorian era, exchanging a few banalities was part of a veritable social code—a way of signaling both politeness and boundaries.—
Jeanne Ballion,
Vogue,
27 Dec. 2025
-
Written by Noah Oppenheim, Bigelow’s real-time thriller about the banalities and actualities of a fictional-in-premise-only nuclear attack on the United States is Netflix’s best horse in the race at the Oscars this year.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Taking what the defense gives you is one of the oldest sayings in the NBA book.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Holtz was quick with inspirational sayings, humor, and self-depreciation that was an act, but oh so charming.—
Mac Engel
March 5,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shibboleths.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shibboleths. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
