as in cliché
an idea or expression that has been used by many people
a screenplay that reads like a catalog of mystery-thriller tropes the narrative trope of two rival characters falling in love by the end of the story
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of trope
Clichés and hoary tropes abound.
—
James Parker, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
The resulting action makes delicious use of special effects to conjure a classic cinematic trope—invisibility—in a spectacular new form.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 16 June 2026
How Michelle Obama has responded to criticism The Obamas have long faced racist tropes, and there has been a constant barrage of online abuse against Michelle.
—Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 15 June 2026
The life of the 28-year-old Euphoria breakout was engulfed in controversy last year over a campaign for the fashion brand American Eagle that some accused of trafficking in racist tropes.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for trope
James Parker, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
The resulting action makes delicious use of special effects to conjure a classic cinematic trope—invisibility—in a spectacular new form.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 16 June 2026
How Michelle Obama has responded to criticism The Obamas have long faced racist tropes, and there has been a constant barrage of online abuse against Michelle.
—Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 15 June 2026
The life of the 28-year-old Euphoria breakout was engulfed in controversy last year over a campaign for the fashion brand American Eagle that some accused of trafficking in racist tropes.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for trope
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trope
Noun
-
This is certainly true—and a rather banal truism.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
-
Rick Jackson is testing that truism in his campaign for Georgia governor.—
Jesse Bedayn,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Wolff was only the eighth woman to drive a Formula 1 car (four more have done it since); the role, a now-commonplace one that includes driving the simulator during Grand Prix weekends to inform trackside strategy, was created for her.—
Danielle McNally,
InStyle,
28 May 2026
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The videos are often integrated into larger montages of drone strikes, underscoring how commonplace these drones have become for Russian forces.—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
Noun
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Victor Lindelof’s pre-match comments smacked of bombast and confidence, the sort of words which are said but not meant, platitudes used to motivate rather than to be sworn under oath.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
15 June 2026
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What is in danger is that this will strip away the soul, the raw humanity actors like Jim Handy brough to each role and replace it with flat, generalized platitudes.—
Carl Kurlander,
Deadline,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trope.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trope. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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