1
as in slogan
an attention-getting word or phrase used to publicize something (as a campaign or product)
we knew that their claim of giving "the best deal in town" was just a shibboleth
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in cliche
an idea or expression that has been used by many people
there's a lot of truth in the shibboleth that if you give some people an inch, they'll take a mile
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shibboleth
As far back as 2015, when all of Washington was under the influence of unfettered free-trade shibboleths, Trump warned about the dangers of economic dependencies, built up over decades of liberalization, that could be exploited for geopolitical leverage.
—
Andrew Byers, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2024
Musk’s willingness to upend auto manufacturing shibboleths has also forced his legacy competitors to seek new efficiencies.
—WIRED, 21 Sep. 2023
Nothing is sacrificed to the shibboleth of good taste.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
Far from being a shibboleth of evil, the company is like any other trying to turn a profit in the Western world in 2023, which comes with its own issues and frustrations separate from the ones posited by Kristof in his viral article.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for shibboleth
Andrew Byers, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2024
Musk’s willingness to upend auto manufacturing shibboleths has also forced his legacy competitors to seek new efficiencies.
—WIRED, 21 Sep. 2023
Nothing is sacrificed to the shibboleth of good taste.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
Far from being a shibboleth of evil, the company is like any other trying to turn a profit in the Western world in 2023, which comes with its own issues and frustrations separate from the ones posited by Kristof in his viral article.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for shibboleth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shibboleth
Noun
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Chicken Jockey The Minecraft Movie was a huge hit among teens and tweens, who were chanting memes and slogans from the movie for months after its release.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
18 Sep. 2025
-
When the Glass House was completed in 1956, the company turned to its American Road slogan and won a petition to have the service drive renamed The American Road.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The same was true of the Dutch squad, and such situations have become something of a World Cup cliche, but in 1974 this was considered novel, and a sign that the sport had become overrun by financial interests, even at international level.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
-
As cliche as seems, Eid wants the spirit of his father’s restaurant to carry over.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Jack Taylor/Getty Images Protesters hold banners and placards during the state visit by the President of the United States of America at Windsor Castle on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry
Shane Croucher
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The organization laid the groundwork in 2018 under the same Electric For All banner, but this new iteration is vastly different in scope, tone and timing.—
Stacy Noblet,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Vance and Miller spoke as if this were a truism.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
20 Sep. 2025
-
That truism apparently extends to Switch modders as well, at least in the case of Ryan Daly.—
Kyle Orland,
ArsTechnica,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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When asked to divulge what gave him confidence in Volpe long term, Cashman did not point to any specifics but rather platitudes that have not mounted to much success three years into the shortstop’s career.—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
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These kumbaya platitudes feel out of place when battered and bloody boys are dropping like flies, but that works to the film’s advantage, laying the groundwork for the final rug-pull.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
These letters are all like parodies of wokeness and DEI bromides.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
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However, swapping out classic sodium chloride for sodium bromide is a solid way to give yourself acne, involuntary muscle spasms, and paranoid psychosis.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Shootings have effectively become their own memes, with their own viral tropes and signifiers.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
17 Sep. 2025
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There are lots of simple ways to make this work other than the idiot ball trope.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Talking about struggles, both past and present, can make the conversation commonplace and combat some of the fear that may fester in an indecisive personality.—
Janine Schindler,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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And with a rise in pro salaries making skipping college more commonplace for America’s teenage prospects, the landscape has further shifted and opened up.—
Molly Geary,
Sportico.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shibboleth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shibboleth. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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