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
In another Amsterdam photo, a pair of identical world globes, recalling Ghirri’s passion for cartography and atlases, rest on matching supports to conjure that oldest of surrealist tropes, a pair of staring eyes.
—
James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Professional arcs not entirely aside, this is a romantic comedy, full of meet-cutes and related tropes, where love rules; no one’s got it, everyone’s looking for it.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Here, the decor is brighter and airier, leaning into refined beach-chic vibes more than ostentatious island tropes.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 May 2026
The character is an adult who drinks, wears impeccable clothing, and beds women—the familiar Bond tropes.
—Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026
The two actresses, cast in roles often reduced to stale tropes in other media (the angry ex-wife, the hot new girlfriend), help round out their characters to something more.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 28 May 2026
As a girl raised on One Direction Wattpad fanfiction, this level of back-to-back cliché tropes is my bread and butter.
—Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 27 May 2026
Leaning into sports tropes, Sluggers’ best-selling product is its five-pack of pre-rolls in a tin wrapped in a metallic mylar bag like the kind collectible sports cards come in.
—Will Yakowicz, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
The Wayan brothers — Marlon, Shawn, and Keenen Ivory — reunite for this cheeky comic homage to slashers and horror tropes.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 23 May 2026
James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Professional arcs not entirely aside, this is a romantic comedy, full of meet-cutes and related tropes, where love rules; no one’s got it, everyone’s looking for it.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Here, the decor is brighter and airier, leaning into refined beach-chic vibes more than ostentatious island tropes.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 May 2026
The character is an adult who drinks, wears impeccable clothing, and beds women—the familiar Bond tropes.
—Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026
The two actresses, cast in roles often reduced to stale tropes in other media (the angry ex-wife, the hot new girlfriend), help round out their characters to something more.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 28 May 2026
As a girl raised on One Direction Wattpad fanfiction, this level of back-to-back cliché tropes is my bread and butter.
—Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 27 May 2026
Leaning into sports tropes, Sluggers’ best-selling product is its five-pack of pre-rolls in a tin wrapped in a metallic mylar bag like the kind collectible sports cards come in.
—Will Yakowicz, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
The Wayan brothers — Marlon, Shawn, and Keenen Ivory — reunite for this cheeky comic homage to slashers and horror tropes.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tropes
Noun
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Spain’s success over the past five years has undermined many long-standing political-economic truisms.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
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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
Noun
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Sets come in half-dozens and include designs like a soccer ball, a flag, celebratory sayings in the language and a jersey, according to its website.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee
May 15,
Kansas City Star,
15 May 2026
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Readers share Mother's Day advice, funny sayings and expressions from moms.—
Letters to the Editor,
Washington Post,
8 May 2026
Noun
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The second was that, along with the platitudes about resilience, attendees were unusually honest about the Gulf’s predicament.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
4 June 2026
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Not the word kindness, not the platitudes.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tropes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tropes. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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