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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shibboleth
But for those who remain beholden to the shibboleths that once justified that act of national self-harm, the Times’ acknowledgment of the obvious might be valuable.
—
The Editors, National Review, 20 Mar. 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
The Editors, National Review, 20 Mar. 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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Then Sudeikis said something at a Big Slick news conference that inspired the slogan that put his company on the map.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
18 July 2025
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Screen-printed onto t-shirts and embroidered onto caps, this slogan sums up the philosophy of gardening for founder Bram Korsten, who established the brand in 2021 in The Netherlands.—
Brett F. Braley-Palko,
Forbes.com,
17 July 2025
Noun
-
And in a twist on the typical movie cliches, guess who plays the ditzy character this time?—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
17 July 2025
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Bana embodies Kyle’s suffocating cliches with endearing commitment, his gravelly voice, gentle countenance, and steadfast capability combining to form a recognizable portrait of pride and suffering.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
17 July 2025
Noun
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The test site for the platform was at St David’s, a shopping center in Cardiff, Wales, where it was piloted by Landsec, as previously reported, under the Co.Lab banner and in a white label joint venture with LDC.—
Kevin Rozario,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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The event provides information on the history of cannabis and its usages through educational banners, booths and seminars.—
Kat Tran
Updated July 14,
Sacbee.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
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Practice creating and communicating narratives that balance today’s truisms with tomorrow’s opportunities.—
Camille Nicita,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
Comments Lovers of Little Women must always face some truisms — Beth will die; Jo will reject Laurie and choose the professor.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
11 June 2025
Noun
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Even when characters get a moment of self-realization, Robert Horn and Kwame Kwei-Armah’s book, including sizeable chunks of the screenplay, replaces drama with platitudes or dialogue gags.—
David Benedict,
Variety,
24 June 2025
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All platitudes aside, the Kentucky distillery really does make some fantastic whiskey, and two releases that always stand out are the annual 10 Year Old Bourbon and Rye—and the 2025 edition of the latter expression was just announced.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
21 May 2025
Noun
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In response to these criticisms, colleges and universities have offered bromides – i.e., vague ideas intended to placate, not Bromo-Seltzer which is no longer available at CVS – about building industry or employer partnerships.—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
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The same rule applies for hearing bromides about chasing dreams and believing in yourself.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2025
Noun
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One of the rare recent TV exercises not to indulge conspiracy-theory tropes but deconstruct and criticize them was Netflix’s winter limited series Zero Day, in which the British actor Dan Stevens played a villainous YouTuber peddling such theories.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
19 July 2025
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In a film landscape where reliance on tropes and cliches leads to a predictable time at the movies, Ari Aster marches to the beat of his own, often deranged, drummer.—
Scott Phillips,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Noun
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The sheer number of stray cats in the U.S. makes encounters like this commonplace.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 July 2025
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Luxury scented candles, like room sprays for that matter, have the power to elevate any moment: taking it from commonplace to utterly indulgent.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shibboleth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shibboleth. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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