stereotypes 1 of 2

Definition of stereotypesnext
plural of stereotype
as in notions
an idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation the noble savage was a stereotype that appealed to 18th-century intellectuals, who viewed European civilization as decadent and corrupt

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stereotypes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of stereotype
as in overuses
to use so much as to make less appealing Movies have stereotyped the domineering mother-in-law ad nauseam.

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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 stereotypes
Noun
Because outdated stereotypes can delay diagnosis, Washington said that eating disorders should be viewed through a broader lens that includes biology, psychology, and social influences. ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026 Comments like this often sit squarely in the territory of gender stereotypes, and those stereotypes have no place at work. Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026 For critics, these characters evoke a long history of pop-cultural stereotypes. David Colman, HollywoodReporter, 23 Feb. 2026 His role, Reggie Porter Montgomery, was originally played by the late Chadwick Boseman — his future Black Panther costar — who was fired after just one week on set for criticizing Reggie's character arc for playing into racial stereotypes. Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Feb. 2026 From challenging gender stereotypes and incorporating AI into training to reframing mental health into a competitive advantage, these are the many ways Gen Z is redefining the Olympics. Kristy Alpert, Outside, 19 Feb. 2026 The brand is built on Leung’s 2023 Redress collection — challenging stereotypes in sustainability and creating fluid and gender-blurring silhouettes. Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026 There is no reliable science behind these stereotypes about kids who don't have siblings. Cynthia Hanson, Parents, 17 Feb. 2026 Jackson’s sincerity eventually overcame the stereotypes about him. Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
The Coalition for Faith and Media, in partnership with HarrisX, recently launched a research study that found 70% of Americans believe Hollywood stereotypes faith, while 82% say film and TV should prioritize portraying more accurate and complex portrayals of faith and religion. Antonio Ferme, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026 But while working mom and trad wife stereotypes reign online and in popular culture, many moms fall somewhere in between those two tropes. Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025 These words have different meanings in the context of AAVE, some say, and using them in a way that appropriates or stereotypes certain people groups strips away the importance of the original definitions. Mia Thurow, jsonline.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stereotypes
Noun
  • As Jackie herself once reminded John, a Kennedy has no choice but to accept that the press and public will speculate, interpret, exaggerate, and invent notions about them based on their own suppositions.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
  • The idea is that a guy goes back in time and his preconceived notions of history are completely different, and his modern ignorance gets the best of him.
    Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • That’s important, since many people make the mistake—both in the gym and daily life—of shrugging their shoulders up to their ears, which overuses the upper traps and elevates the scapula.
    Jenny McCoy, SELF, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Do not hide your knowledge away from others; be sure to share these concepts with friends and family.
    Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2026
  • Trying to do what your phone can’t Ziad Asghar, who leads Qualcomm’s wearables and personal AI devices division, said Qualcomm saw the need for a new chip after companies approached them with new gadget concepts.
    Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The invasive beetle bores into wood and kills ash trees by eating tissues under the bark.
    Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • But the patient, grinding work of peace implementation typically bores him.
    Bobby Ghosh, Time, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Rising above material needs, our current conceptions of class, identity, and climate will shift radically.
    Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
  • As a means of generating its own conceptions of goodness that feel compelling to most human beings, its record is quite mixed, perhaps because that’s not what it was ever designed to do.
    Christopher Beha, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Board member Nicole Gribstad also urged the committee to include an option that delays such a decision and exhausts all other financial alternatives before closing schools.
    Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
  • But freedom of expression is a constant pursuit, as natural as breathing, and silencing it is an imperfect practice that exhausts the oppressor and energizes the oppressed.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026

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“Stereotypes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stereotypes. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.

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