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views of minorities that are stereotyped and out-of-date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
Sleep apnea is still stereotyped as affecting older, overweight men, which means women’s more subtle symptoms are often not thoroughly investigated by doctors. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026 Brousson jokingly stereotyped the Waffle House staffers as having active warrants, picking their nose with the spatulas and smoking cigarettes while battling third-degree grease burns. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for stereotyped
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stereotyped
Adjective
  • On Housewives, story lines grow tired and repetitive, and attempts to shake up the dynamics inevitably fall flat as the show reverts back to a familiar staleness.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Even Trump’s biggest supporters are growing tired of the high prices that his war has caused.
    — Daniel W. Drezner, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Hundreds of pinprick holes had been bored into the metal undercarriage, and each one had to be deburred by hand.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The face of it is teenagers who are rebellious, bored by school (often for good reason), and beyond parent control.
    — Kalman Hettleman, Washington Post, 12 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The hackneyed ruminations on feminine style are punctured by an image of violent female rage.
    — Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
  • There’s some hackneyed dialogue, much of it borne by Neeson, who despite his prominence in advertising gets sidelined for most of the running time.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • But 1984 is continuously overused by fans as evidence of what the program can achieve.
    — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Adjective
  • Back then, the solar system was host to an infant star surrounded by a swirling disk of gas and dust in which collisions between bodies called planetesimals — the building blocks of planets — were commonplace.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Rotary phones let users enter numbers themselves, and, at least in American cities, the ability to make local calls by dialling had become commonplace by the nineteen-thirties.
    — Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Trump has already exhausted many of the obvious lame-duck gambits.
    — Daniel W. Drezner, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2026
  • There are no roads on Everest, and helicopters are the only way to bring down trekkers and guides who become sick or exhausted in the cold and high altitude.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • Then came the evidently now-obligatory Harrison Butker missed field goal, and a nearly instant Denver touchdown to take the lead.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The trio of city employees flipped through the issue with obligatory earnestness, straining to read in the dark and din of the party.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Imai had pitched twice in the previous 19 days, occupying a roster spot while leaving his fellow relievers overexposed.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • While some use leverage strategically, many are overexposed, risking severe losses when markets inevitably correct, proving even good ideas can fail without surviving volatility.
    — Andrew Graham, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Stereotyped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stereotyped. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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