as in cliches
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 tropes
Blending thriller, drama and romance tropes coated in an overall ironic tone, the film marks the directorial debut of Rampoldi, who is a prominent Italian screenwriter.
—
Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
Most women fall somewhere in between those two tropes, and for years feminists like Strauss have been working to do away with that false binary.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Much more was delivered as the collection unfolded, bringing the style tropes and the histories of the house into a fresh, even disruptive sophistication and a contemporaneity that returned Coco Chanel as the point of reference all at once.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025
While technically more of a succubus movie than a vampire story, Diablo Cody's criminally underrated (and superior) follow-up to 2007's Juno shares enough tropes with and homages to the vampire genre that its inclusion here is justified.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
Naturally, no shortage of love triangles, drunken decisions, and roommate squabbles ensue — common comedy tropes that get turned on their heads by Waller-Bridge’s trademark offbeat, razor-sharp comedic instincts.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 3 Oct. 2025
Still, Jews are seeing a return of anti-Jewish tropes, said Rabbi Jaime Aklepi of Temple Beth Am, a Reform synagogue in Pinecrest.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Campaign one followed the exploits of Vox Machina, and followed many linear aspects of The Lord of the Rings-style fantasy tropes.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
There is a specific subcategory of magic romance books deal gently with death, that thing that is as much a part of love and life as any amount of comedy, tropes and beats.
—Audrey Goldberg Ruoff, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
Most women fall somewhere in between those two tropes, and for years feminists like Strauss have been working to do away with that false binary.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Much more was delivered as the collection unfolded, bringing the style tropes and the histories of the house into a fresh, even disruptive sophistication and a contemporaneity that returned Coco Chanel as the point of reference all at once.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025
While technically more of a succubus movie than a vampire story, Diablo Cody's criminally underrated (and superior) follow-up to 2007's Juno shares enough tropes with and homages to the vampire genre that its inclusion here is justified.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
Naturally, no shortage of love triangles, drunken decisions, and roommate squabbles ensue — common comedy tropes that get turned on their heads by Waller-Bridge’s trademark offbeat, razor-sharp comedic instincts.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 3 Oct. 2025
Still, Jews are seeing a return of anti-Jewish tropes, said Rabbi Jaime Aklepi of Temple Beth Am, a Reform synagogue in Pinecrest.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Campaign one followed the exploits of Vox Machina, and followed many linear aspects of The Lord of the Rings-style fantasy tropes.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
There is a specific subcategory of magic romance books deal gently with death, that thing that is as much a part of love and life as any amount of comedy, tropes and beats.
—Audrey Goldberg Ruoff, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tropes
cliches
Noun
-
New novels are rightly praised for breaking with traditional forms and criticized for turning to stale formulas and cliches.—
Nathaniel Moore
September 10,
Literary Hub,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Just really not going to sit here and give some cliches.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tropes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tropes. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share