stereotypes 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
What bothers me is the foot-dragging, the spinning in circles, the slow degradation of these characters into annoying stereotypes. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith’s screenplay is littered with exaggerated stereotypes just waiting to be boisterously subverted. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 June 2026 Too often, stereotypes about Africa lead us to treat players like Mane as outliers rather than as embodiments of the continent’s spirit. Jeremy Ebobisse, Time, 26 June 2026 Great writers, at least according to the stereotypes, are supposed to be excellent readers. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 26 June 2026 Health care decisions are still too often influenced by stereotypes rather than evidence. Michelle Sie Whitten, STAT, 25 June 2026 If stereotypes are to be believed, Cancer is the most emotional of the signs and the retrograde in this sign will just heighten the emotions. Ayrika L Whitney, USA Today, 24 June 2026 This is especially problematic when people do so in a way that disrespects, stereotypes or materially harms the original culture. Jeremy David Engels, The Conversation, 23 June 2026 The gathering in Baltimore aimed to counter stereotypes and connect dads with resources. Jasmine Golden, Washington Post, 21 June 2026
Verb
In their scenes together, Ahmed plays straight man so Khan can go huge, all breezy confidence and street smarts combined as a defense against the countless stereotypes the bearded, accented, proudly Muslim Zulfi must face every day. Joe Reid, Vulture, 29 May 2026 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
  • Blind tasting removes preconceived notions about the brand, winemaker, or even label design, narrowing the focus to wine quality and nothing else.
    Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 23 June 2026
  • In the doing, her film expands to accommodate notions of class, solidarity and privilege – in what is now a timeless snapshot of a rapidly evolving society.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 June 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
  • Plus, Euclid can switch between zoning and planning, creating renders of future concepts, like new buildings or bike lanes.
    Jennifer Castenson, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • In the middle of Paris’ intense heat wave, both incorporated water into their show concepts, creating immersive experiences that felt not only visually striking but also emotionally and physically connected to the moment.
    Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • The caterpillar bores into the stem through a tiny hole and tunnels inside the plant destroying tissue.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 17 June 2026
  • For instance, if a textbook bores you, try watching a documentary!
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Thus, the cisgendered body and heterosexuality are a dynamic instead of a foundation to our conceptions of Black motherhood.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
  • Users could compare the two and get a window into their own conceptions of the game.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • Watching this scene, and much of the film, exhausts me.
    Jenny Odell, Longreads, 2 June 2026
  • If the search for a large outdoor planter exhausts you—just get a terra-cotta planter.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stereotypes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stereotypes. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on stereotypes

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