stereotype 1 of 2

noun

Definition of stereotypenext
as in concept
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

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stereotype

2 of 2

verb

ˈster-ē-ə-ˌtīp How to pronounce stereotype (audio)
as in to overuse
to use so much as to make less appealing Movies have stereotyped the domineering mother-in-law ad nauseam.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stereotype
Noun
Too often, stereotypes about Africa lead us to treat players like Mane as outliers rather than as embodiments of the continent’s spirit. — Jeremy Ebobisse, Time, 26 June 2026 News stories about depression can either reinforce outdated stereotypes or normalize seeking care. — Brian Castrucci, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
When younger generations don’t have interactions or relationships with older adults having vibrant lives, later chapters of life can be stereotyped as a time of pain, difficulty and loss, Emery-Tiburcio said. — Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 23 May 2026 In their scenes together, Ahmed plays straight man so Khan can go huge, all breezy confidence and street smarts combined as a defense against the countless stereotypes the bearded, accented, proudly Muslim Zulfi must face every day. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for stereotype
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stereotype
  1. concept
  2. overuse
  3. notion
  4. vulgarize
  5. conception
  6. bore
  7. theory
  8. popularize
Noun
  • The building’s second floor will house a full-service restaurant, though the concept has not been finalized, and the third floor will function as a rooftop bar.
    — Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 4 July 2026
  • The dog park and bar concept, owned by Free Range Concepts, also shut down its Dallas and Allen locations.
    — Jake Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2026
Definition of concept
Verb
  • Although the word ‘hero’ is greatly overused in today’s society, in my mind, Calvin Duncan is a hero in the truest sense of that word.
    — Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
  • Meanwhile, existing antibiotics have been overused, and resistance has mounted to critical levels.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 26 June 2026
Definition of overuse
Noun
  • Those seeking to stop the roundup reject almost all of the federal agencies’ claims, from the size of the herd to the notion that the horses cause ecological damage.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • The decision in the Wong Kim Ark case was so widely accepted that even in periods of great hostility to immigrants, the notion of birthright citizenship remained untouchable.
    — Nina Totenberg, NPR, 30 June 2026
Definition of notion
Verb
  • His versions were full-blooded, with lush strings and reasonably large orchestras — and, purists alleged — vulgarizing distortions.
    — BostonGlobe.com, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Oct. 2019
  • Ever since his rise to power, Trump has served as a vulgarizing agent.
    — Leon Neyfakh, Slate Magazine, 2 June 2017
Definition of vulgarize
Noun
  • At the time of Sealand’s conception, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) controlled the airwaves in the United Kingdom, playing popular music only late in the night.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026
  • Legal preparation is so important before conception, birth, or placement.
    — Morgan Mouchette, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of conception
Verb
  • Barbara Groom was in her late 30s, working as a successful pharmacist and bored out of her mind.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • For anyone bored by the shallow thinking of podcasts, here are real depths.
    — Air Mail, Air Mail, 27 June 2026
Definition of bore
Noun
  • Germ theory also emerged in the late 1800s, in which scientists discovered that germs caused disease.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • The two budding geniuses would sit in Charles’ apartment for hours, talking music theory and analyzing records, though Jones’s curiosity occasionally exhausted Charles.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 3 July 2026
Definition of theory
Verb
  • In 1952, Marilyn Monroe first wore jeans onscreen, helping popularize them for American women.
    — Faran Krentcil, InStyle, 1 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, Meta's WhatsApp has 500 million people in India using its messaging services, but is struggling to popularize its payment tool, WhatsApp Pay, in the country's hyper-competitive digital payments space.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 23 June 2026
Definition of popularize

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Cite this Entry

“Stereotype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stereotype. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on stereotype

Nglish: Translation of stereotype for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stereotype

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