as in clichés
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
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Recent Examples of tropes
Combining the tropes of the superhero genre with the police procedural genre, Powers follows two Chicago homicide detectives, Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim, who work in cases involving super powers.
—
Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 20 Mar. 2026
There's all of these tropes and stereotypes about gender roles and women's roles in particular, especially in Victorian times, that would automatically align women's work as being within the household.
—Mariel Carr, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2026
But there also are fears that the focus on Israel is the leading edge of an antisemitic fringe that has gained ground by portraying Jews as shadowy manipulators, echoing some of history's most hateful tropes.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
But there also are fears that the focus on Israel is the leading edge of an antisemitic fringe that has gained ground by portraying Jews as shadowy manipulators, echoing some of history’s most hateful tropes.
—Thomas Beaumont, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Antisemitism is renovated with concepts such as equity, decolonization and liberation, despite promoting the same traditional antisemitic tropes.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
The romance tropes are endless, and the magic is too.
—De Elizabeth, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2026
Checkers ice out the Islanders Besides book lovers discussing their book boyfriends and favorite tropes there was a hockey game Friday night.
—Charlotte Observer, 16 Mar. 2026
Though the sketch’s first target was the constellation of poorly qualified skeptics who now direct much of American health-care policy, its real bite lay in showing how reliant these contrarians are on the tropes of mainstream culture, not to mention the medical system itself.
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2026
Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 20 Mar. 2026
There's all of these tropes and stereotypes about gender roles and women's roles in particular, especially in Victorian times, that would automatically align women's work as being within the household.
—Mariel Carr, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2026
But there also are fears that the focus on Israel is the leading edge of an antisemitic fringe that has gained ground by portraying Jews as shadowy manipulators, echoing some of history's most hateful tropes.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
But there also are fears that the focus on Israel is the leading edge of an antisemitic fringe that has gained ground by portraying Jews as shadowy manipulators, echoing some of history’s most hateful tropes.
—Thomas Beaumont, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Antisemitism is renovated with concepts such as equity, decolonization and liberation, despite promoting the same traditional antisemitic tropes.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
The romance tropes are endless, and the magic is too.
—De Elizabeth, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2026
Checkers ice out the Islanders Besides book lovers discussing their book boyfriends and favorite tropes there was a hockey game Friday night.
—Charlotte Observer, 16 Mar. 2026
Though the sketch’s first target was the constellation of poorly qualified skeptics who now direct much of American health-care policy, its real bite lay in showing how reliant these contrarians are on the tropes of mainstream culture, not to mention the medical system itself.
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tropes
Noun
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The play isn’t subtle; the final sequence leans hard on truisms about addiction and trauma, which are affecting but overly explicit.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2026
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One of the truisms in the past for Team Canada at some best-on-best events is needing a few games to find its game.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Taking what the defense gives you is one of the oldest sayings in the NBA book.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Holtz was quick with inspirational sayings, humor, and self-depreciation that was an act, but oh so charming.—
Mac Engel
March 5,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But for UConn, the platitudes feel profoundly honest.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
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Donovan reiterated a series of platitudes that haven’t changed during his time with the Bulls.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tropes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tropes. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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