tropes

plural of trope
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 With 30 rooms, including 13 suites, all with views of the Dolomites, the interiors depart from familiar alpine tropes. Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 21 June 2026 In that episode, there is a very direct conversation about tropes and specifically the crazy-ex-girlfriend trope regarding Arthur’s ex, Narcissa, played by Anna Camp. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 June 2026 And ultimately, the premise of the show is insane horror tropes are happening to boring, normal people. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2026 Reynolds distilled the script down to feature length, keeping the iconic tropes of the genre like the prom, the school play, finals, and graduation all intact. Matthew Huff, IndieWire, 17 June 2026 Clichés and hoary tropes abound. James Parker, The Atlantic, 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 Maclean’s work traffics in deep fakes and glitch aesthetics, rainbow cuteness and the tropes of pulp—but these are set against violent dystopias and a world of cruelties borne, especially, by women (see her 2018 video Make Me Up as an example). Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tropes
Noun
  • Spain’s success over the past five years has undermined many long-standing political-economic truisms.
    Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
  • 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
Noun
  • Dear Annabelle makes adorable place cards that have witty sayings or a theme.
    Mark Seliger, Vulture, 22 June 2026
  • Their advice and memorable sayings reveal lessons of perseverance, faith and integrity — values that continue to influence generations that follow.
    Yolanda Harris, AJC.com, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • There’s passable yet indistinguishable music in this exact style dropping every day, but the difference with Chicago’s Fatso is that his lyrics feel like scraps of conversations that communicate his hurt without leaning on platitudes.
    Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 24 June 2026
  • 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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Cite this Entry

“Tropes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tropes. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

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