cliche

[klee-shey, kli-] / kliˈʃeɪ, klɪ- /

NOUN

overused, hackneyed phrase

Synonyms

WEAK

adage banality boiler plate bromide buzzword chestnut commonplace corn counterword familiar tune motto old story platitude potboiler prosaism proverb rubber stamp saying shibboleth slogan stale saying stereotype threadbare phrase trite remark triteness triviality truism vapid expression

cliché

NOUN

overused, hackneyed phrase

Synonyms

WEAK

adage banality boiler plate bromide buzzword chestnut commonplace corn counterword familiar tune motto old story platitude potboiler prosaism proverb saying shibboleth slogan stale saying stereotype threadbare phrase trite remark triteness triviality truism vapid expression

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Just because it's a cliche doesn't mean it isn't true.

From BBC • Jan. 3, 2026

"It's a cliche, but we love it here" she added, crediting the friendly people, the beach and their favourite cafe Marco's, which also featured in the show.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2025

We broke up within a month, and my life became a California cliche: I joined a cult-like spiritual practice with a glamorous Indian guru.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2025

You know, those no-hitters and complete games and seeing whether somebody had a pitch in his back pocket, as the cliche goes in baseball, that they could use… That’s the way pitchers used to pitch.

From Salon • Nov. 3, 2025

And she didn’t even care if that was a cliche.

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon

Vocabulary lists containing cliche

Literary Devices & Figures of Speech - Introductory

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The AP English Exam: Rhetorical and Literary Terms 2

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Reading: Literature - Literary Devices & Figures of Speech - Middle School

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