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
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The cliche is old, outdated and just a lazy argument used in conversations where not much knowledge of the WNBA is present.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
The channel presents videos of Adams traveling to various country clubs and using Jewish cliches to poke fun at golf’s historic exclusion of Jews.
—Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2025
The actor does his best to exude menace, but he’s hampered by a script filled with franchise cliches like an evil admiral (Peter Weller) and Kirk playing fast and loose with the Prime Directive.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 30 June 2025
To invoke a cliche, the movie teaches you how to watch it, establishing a visual language early and hammering it often.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 20 June 2025
Noun
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
The channel presents videos of Adams traveling to various country clubs and using Jewish cliches to poke fun at golf’s historic exclusion of Jews.
—Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2025
The actor does his best to exude menace, but he’s hampered by a script filled with franchise cliches like an evil admiral (Peter Weller) and Kirk playing fast and loose with the Prime Directive.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 30 June 2025
To invoke a cliche, the movie teaches you how to watch it, establishing a visual language early and hammering it often.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 20 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
-
This generalization should hold for interstellar interlopers as well.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
25 July 2025
-
First, generational generalizations don’t really serve anyone.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
To anyone tired of dysfunction, this is a new beginning.—
Mike Levin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 July 2025
-
Cosmetic procedures were once only whispered about, carefully timed around the holidays to create the illusion that a restful getaway had erased wrinkles, brightened tired eyes and restored a youthful, refreshed look.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
Every week, there’s a new example of the upside-down logic at work in the White House: platitudes that say one thing, policies that portend another.—
Heidi Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
25 July 2025
-
Walz seemed to agree but then retreated to platitudes.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
This hackneyed stance has turned his concert performances shrill and hollow.—
Armond White,
National Review,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
Practice creating and communicating narratives that balance today’s truisms with tomorrow’s opportunities.—
Camille Nicita,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
Comments Lovers of Little Women must always face some truisms — Beth will die; Jo will reject Laurie and choose the professor.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
11 June 2025
Noun
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But there actually is some evidence that the pop culture trope is rooted in science!—
Ronnie Li,
USA Today,
1 Aug. 2025
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His set had its share of ’70s singer-songwriter instrumental tropes, including sax and steel guitar — comfort-food instruments whose warm touches help some of Misty’s more lacerating songs feel like you’re being treated with a balm.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
31 July 2025
Adjective
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Editing for brevity’s sake is commonplace in TV journalism and CBS argued Trump’s claims had no merit.—
Chris Morris,
Fortune,
25 July 2025
-
That's simply not exciting in a reality where superheroes have been commonplace since Iron Man had a press conference, aliens have invaded multiple times, and a mad Titan erased half of all life (before everybody came back).—
James Grebey,
Time,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cliché.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clich%C3%A9. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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