Definition of stereotypednext

stereotyped

2 of 2

verb

past tense of stereotype
as in popularized
to use so much as to make less appealing Movies have stereotyped the domineering mother-in-law ad nauseam.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective stereotyped differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of stereotyped are hackneyed, threadbare, and trite. While all these words mean "lacking the freshness that evokes attention or interest," stereotyped implies falling invariably into the same pattern or form.

views of minorities that are stereotyped and out-of-date

In what contexts can hackneyed take the place of stereotyped?

While in some cases nearly identical to stereotyped, hackneyed stresses being worn out by overuse so as to become dull and meaningless.

all of the metaphors and images in the poem are hackneyed

When would threadbare be a good substitute for stereotyped?

The synonyms threadbare and stereotyped are sometimes interchangeable, but threadbare applies to what has been used until its possibilities of interest have been totally exhausted.

a mystery novel with a threadbare plot

Where would trite be a reasonable alternative to stereotyped?

Although the words trite and stereotyped have much in common, trite applies to a once effective phrase or idea spoiled from long familiarity.

"you win some, you lose some" is a trite expression

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 stereotyped
Adjective
This is a directed, stereotyped behavior in which the highest-resolution region of the somatosensory surface is brought to bear on the object requiring the most detailed analysis. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026 Latinos are a fundamental part of American history and culture, and one of the largest communities in the United States, yet their presence in Hollywood has long been limited, stereotyped, or overlooked. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
Bolton argues that the pregnant body has either been ignored or stereotyped in art. ABC News, 3 May 2026 Latinos are a fundamental part of American history and culture, and one of the largest communities in the United States, yet their presence in Hollywood has long been limited, stereotyped, or overlooked. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stereotyped
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stereotyped
Adjective
  • Pick up a s’mores kit from reception, claim one of the firepits, and watch your fellow Cape-goers drift back from the beach with sandy feet and tired kids.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 July 2026
  • In an age of endless subscriptions and price hikes, people are sick and tired of paying for access to products rather than owning them.
    Bee Wertheimer, PC Magazine, 24 July 2026
Verb
  • The best moment of this episode comes near the end, when Amanda Cronin, bored by a ridiculous argument, decides to reapply her lip gloss using her knife as a mirror.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 29 July 2026
  • Perhaps Klassen got bored with his signature style and removed the eyes from the clock and table and boots in this book.
    Casey Cep, New Yorker, 7 July 2026
Adjective
  • Maybe so, but think of how badly Congress had stated those hackneyed ideas.
    Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • While not exactly a feminist screed, the script grants nary a free pass to the glut of hackneyed gender conventions in the golden-age canon without at least cracking a joke.
    Naveen Kumar, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • While the analogy may be slightly overused, the challenge is that oil still needs to be refined into a useful end product.
    Guy Courtin, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Although the word ‘hero’ is greatly overused in today’s society, in my mind, Calvin Duncan is a hero in the truest sense of that word.
    Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Woodard says egg freezing has since become commonplace, and fertility preservation has become increasingly integrated into cancer care in the past decade.
    Rachel Hale, USA Today, 29 July 2026
  • Public-private information exchange, post-quantum cryptography migration, and zero trust concepts must become commonplace.
    Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Verb
  • Players were exhausted after nearly two years of shifting restrictions and the stress of constantly facing the possibility of solitary confinement in a foreign city.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 25 July 2026
  • While the use of subpoena power against journalists has always been highly controversial, officials in past administrations sometimes justified it by arguing it was used as a last resort, after other investigative avenues were exhausted.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
Adjective
  • Add a cool summer slide and obligatory pair of black sunglasses for a chic finishing touch.
    Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 23 July 2026
  • The mahr — the obligatory dowry the groom must pay under Islamic law — comes on top of that, as does the apartment, furniture, and expectation of ongoing household support.
    Wael Mahdi, semafor.com, 21 July 2026
Verb
  • They can get dehydrated and overexposed to the sun and are unable to cool down.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 25 June 2026
  • The background appears splotchy and overexposed, but to my dismay, the selfie camera did not miss my messy eyebrows or the minor imperfections on my skin.
    Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 2 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stereotyped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stereotyped. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on stereotyped

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster