variants
also cliche
as in stereotyped
used or heard so often as to be dull
a cliché tale of lust and betrayal among the fabulously rich
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also cliche
as in generalization
an idea or expression that has been used by many people
try to write a love story without resorting to well-worn clichés
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cliché
Chandler Rome, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2025
However, the cliche’ of southern hospitality has proven true, both personally and professionally.
—Joshua D. Smeltzer, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Together’s cast and special effects department alone could make for a substantive horror classic, but the script is freighted with distracting cliches and errant plot developments.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 July 2025
Bana embodies Kyle’s suffocating cliches with endearing commitment, his gravelly voice, gentle countenance, and steadfast capability combining to form a recognizable portrait of pride and suffering.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 July 2025
And in a twist on the typical movie cliches, guess who plays the ditzy character this time?
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 17 July 2025
In a film landscape where reliance on tropes and cliches leads to a predictable time at the movies, Ari Aster marches to the beat of his own, often deranged, drummer.
—Scott Phillips, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
The old cliche seems true, that writing is tough, but having written is wonderful.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 24 June 2025
The cliche is old, outdated and just a lazy argument used in conversations where not much knowledge of the WNBA is present.
—Fiifi Frimpong, Hartford Courant, 10 June 2025
Noun
Clinging to that cliche is causing a crisis, one that presents the most tangible threat to the Astros’ pursuit of an American League West title.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2025
However, the cliche’ of southern hospitality has proven true, both personally and professionally.
—Joshua D. Smeltzer, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Together’s cast and special effects department alone could make for a substantive horror classic, but the script is freighted with distracting cliches and errant plot developments.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 July 2025
Bana embodies Kyle’s suffocating cliches with endearing commitment, his gravelly voice, gentle countenance, and steadfast capability combining to form a recognizable portrait of pride and suffering.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 July 2025
And in a twist on the typical movie cliches, guess who plays the ditzy character this time?
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 17 July 2025
In a film landscape where reliance on tropes and cliches leads to a predictable time at the movies, Ari Aster marches to the beat of his own, often deranged, drummer.
—Scott Phillips, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
The old cliche seems true, that writing is tough, but having written is wonderful.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 24 June 2025
The cliche is old, outdated and just a lazy argument used in conversations where not much knowledge of the WNBA is present.
—Fiifi Frimpong, Hartford Courant, 10 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliché
Adjective
-
Several leaders described the pressure of being both highly visible and easily stereotyped.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
-
Their negative stereotyped reputation seems to follow them like ageism follows older employees or sexism follows female employees.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Instead of making sweeping generalizations, Sagaram recommends zeroing in on specific actions.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Initially based on caution, these broad generalizations now simply hinder action and empower scammers in a fast-changing digital landscape.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
28 May 2025
Adjective
-
If tired, float or tread water until out of the rip current.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Aug. 2025
-
Clearly, the fans are tired of Smith's constant issues with James.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The United States might start to see itself as others do—self-righteous, hypocritical, futile—tire of its own platitudes and lies, and consider a change.—
Hussein Agha,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
-
But until there’s a contract signed, any public platitudes are just that.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
28 July 2025
Adjective
-
Writer-director James Agnew’s hackneyed action-thriller is woefully short on action and thrills, and generic enough to suggest it was scripted by AI.—
Joe Leydon,
Variety,
27 June 2025
-
Similarly, the billionaire-villain forgery subplot and the insertion of romance into team dynamics came across as forced, hackneyed and unnecessary.—
Karl Moore,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
There is a truism that a good place to live is a good place to visit—and that relationship often creates a virtuous cycle of development.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
-
This session has turned on its head the long-running truism that Texas is a weak-governor state.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
Donkey provided comic relief, pathos and friendship to Shrek, with the film praised for its humorous twist on fairy-tale tropes.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Aug. 2025
-
To do so, the group used five prompts that reflected common antisemitic tropes and used the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism as a guiding principle.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Losing fingernails over special teams is commonplace in the NFL.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
27 Aug. 2025
-
What feels radical today—AI handling most initial alert triage—may be commonplace in just a few years.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cliché.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clich%C3%A9. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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