as in notions
an idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation
the noble savage was a stereotype that appealed to 18th-century intellectuals, who viewed European civilization as decadent and corrupt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in overuses
to use so much as to make less appealing
Movies have stereotyped the domineering mother-in-law ad nauseam.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stereotypes
Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
But for me, at least, the direction is neither sufficiently cohesive or detailed to really pull all of these different strands together to offer much more than a chance to have fun with genre stereotypes or relive a favorite movie.
—Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
But for me, at least, the direction is neither sufficiently cohesive or detailed, in that crucial moment-by-moment way, to really pull all of these different strands together to offer much more than a chance to have fun with genre stereotypes or relive a favorite movie.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
At the dawn of the 20th century, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion took hold of the Western imagination, codifying generations of stereotypes and canards about Jews controlling global events and packaging them in easy-to-read pamphlets.
—Mike Rothschild, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
This image clashes with most American stereotypes of Iran and its people, and is at odds with decades of anti-Iranian sentiment emanating from Washington.
—Daniel Thomas Potts, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
From the dramatic adolescent to the unpredictable PMS-ing woman to the irritable menopausal crone, unattractive stereotypes of women ruled by their hormones abound.
—Patricia Bencivenga, STAT, 26 Mar. 2026
In this case, some of the false storylines included racist stereotypes.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Some false versions even included problematic stereotypes.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
Antonio Ferme, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
But while working mom and trad wife stereotypes reign online and in popular culture, many moms fall somewhere in between those two tropes.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
These words have different meanings in the context of AAVE, some say, and using them in a way that appropriates or stereotypes certain people groups strips away the importance of the original definitions.
—Mia Thurow, jsonline.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
As this shift took place, the literary figure of the serial killer gave authors as well as readers an opportunity to sift through the public health issues that were deeply entangled with the racial stereotypes of the War on Drugs.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
But for me, at least, the direction is neither sufficiently cohesive or detailed to really pull all of these different strands together to offer much more than a chance to have fun with genre stereotypes or relive a favorite movie.
—Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
But for me, at least, the direction is neither sufficiently cohesive or detailed, in that crucial moment-by-moment way, to really pull all of these different strands together to offer much more than a chance to have fun with genre stereotypes or relive a favorite movie.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
At the dawn of the 20th century, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion took hold of the Western imagination, codifying generations of stereotypes and canards about Jews controlling global events and packaging them in easy-to-read pamphlets.
—Mike Rothschild, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
This image clashes with most American stereotypes of Iran and its people, and is at odds with decades of anti-Iranian sentiment emanating from Washington.
—Daniel Thomas Potts, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
From the dramatic adolescent to the unpredictable PMS-ing woman to the irritable menopausal crone, unattractive stereotypes of women ruled by their hormones abound.
—Patricia Bencivenga, STAT, 26 Mar. 2026
In this case, some of the false storylines included racist stereotypes.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Some false versions even included problematic stereotypes.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
The Coalition for Faith and Media, in partnership with HarrisX, recently launched a research study that found 70% of Americans believe Hollywood stereotypes faith, while 82% say film and TV should prioritize portraying more accurate and complex portrayals of faith and religion.
—Antonio Ferme, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
But while working mom and trad wife stereotypes reign online and in popular culture, many moms fall somewhere in between those two tropes.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
These words have different meanings in the context of AAVE, some say, and using them in a way that appropriates or stereotypes certain people groups strips away the importance of the original definitions.
—Mia Thurow, jsonline.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stereotypes
Noun
-
Advice or even just notions—only check email after noon; never do 10 reps of crunches—solidify into absolutism or vanish.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2026
-
For years, Ye had been obsessed with notions of Jewish villainy, while also identifying himself with Adolf Hitler and Nazis.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That’s important, since many people make the mistake—both in the gym and daily life—of shrugging their shoulders up to their ears, which overuses the upper traps and elevates the scapula.—
Jenny McCoy,
SELF,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
However, as Rothbard lays out, one of the most important concepts that often gets lost or forgotten in the fog of war is that violence may only be used to resist or punish the aggressor.—
Connor Okeeffe,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Health concepts such as Modern Market Eatery and Saladworks have recently entered the KC market.—
Jenna Thompson
March 28,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For instance, if a textbook bores you, try watching a documentary!—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The invasive beetle bores into wood and kills ash trees by eating tissues under the bark.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In reaction against the waste of life and ill-success of Mazzini’s program, moderate opinion tended to crystallize around federal conceptions of the solution of the Italian problem.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Second, however, at the chasm between the Framers’ conceptions of Presidential war power and the unbounded nature of that authority today.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As the oil blockade quickly exhausts Cuba’s supply of fuel, triggering a series of lengthy, island-wide blackouts, many here are exhausted and are becoming increasingly vocal about their desire for fundamental changes in Cuba.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Board member Nicole Gribstad also urged the committee to include an option that delays such a decision and exhausts all other financial alternatives before closing schools.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stereotypes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stereotypes. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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