as in cliché
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of trope
While the crime plot is an obvious highlight, I was stunned by Tilly and Gershon’s incredible chemistry and the rejection of stereotypical noir tropes.
—
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
28 June 2026
This cannot happen if lazy tropes around risk and governance continue to overshadow the ingenuity already present on the continent.
—
Jeremy Ebobisse,
Time,
26 June 2026
In addition to reinforcing graphic-design tropes, Claude Design tends to direct all of its users toward the same libraries of open-source code, the tools behind user-interface design.
—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
24 June 2026
With 30 rooms, including 13 suites, all with views of the Dolomites, the interiors depart from familiar alpine tropes.
—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for trope
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
28 June 2026
This cannot happen if lazy tropes around risk and governance continue to overshadow the ingenuity already present on the continent.
—
Jeremy Ebobisse,
Time,
26 June 2026
In addition to reinforcing graphic-design tropes, Claude Design tends to direct all of its users toward the same libraries of open-source code, the tools behind user-interface design.
—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
24 June 2026
With 30 rooms, including 13 suites, all with views of the Dolomites, the interiors depart from familiar alpine tropes.
—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for trope
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trope
Noun
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This is certainly true—and a rather banal truism.
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Rick Jackson is testing that truism in his campaign for Georgia governor.
Noun
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Wolff was only the eighth woman to drive a Formula 1 car (four more have done it since); the role, a now-commonplace one that includes driving the simulator during Grand Prix weekends to inform trackside strategy, was created for her.
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The videos are often integrated into larger montages of drone strikes, underscoring how commonplace these drones have become for Russian forces.
Noun
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As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, some of America’s most visible business leaders are doing more than offering patriotic platitudes.
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There’s passable yet indistinguishable music in this exact style dropping every day, but the difference with Chicago’s Fatso is that his lyrics feel like scraps of conversations that communicate his hurt without leaning on platitudes.
Cite this Entry
“Trope.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trope. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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