GROANER Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

groaner

noun

ˈgrō-nər

Definition of groaner

as in cliché

an idea or expression that has been used by many people the play's dialogue featured all of the groaners that seem to be de rigueur for any dysfunctional-family drama

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

profundity

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 groaner Those pacing blips aren’t the only groaners. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026 Che laughs about four groaners in a row, looking around sheepishly. — Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 15 Dec. 2024 The only possible groaner, a joke about school shootings, clearly worked with the improv audience but, Wood reasoned, needed to come later in Saturday’s set, once the audience had grown to trust him a bit. — Wesley Lowery, Washington Post, 1 May 2023 Evidently the authors — and the director, Jack O’Brien — meant to glue the show together with groaners, a gutsy if not entirely successful move. — Jesse Green, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2023 Scott performs on the track like a bizarro Young Thug, incapable of wringing any enthusiasm out of his voice, and delivers some egregious groaner punchlines, while Drake continues to burrow into narcissism. — Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2021

Recent Examples of Synonyms for groaner

Noun

But despite tropes that paint our era as one of apathy and distraction, our reporting shows agency – individuals and communities putting aside differences to demand both fairness and the ability to define what matters.

— Stephanie Hanes, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2026
Even today Guadalajara's most forward-looking designers continue to experiment with these deeply rooted tropes, from the lyrical modulation of their city's radiant light to the proud application of local oficios.

— Michael Snyder, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of trope

Noun

Wars cannot be fought on ideology alone – a truism that perhaps led to the firebrand former defense minister’s departure, after months of clashes and refusing to deal with the army top brass, as Zelensky describes it.

— Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
But most politicians are pretty easily replaced, a truism that Moreno reinforced by going public.

— Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of truism

Noun

In between some of the manager’s more clip-worthy quotes, there were more of his usual — and not incorrect — platitudes.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
And no, this isn’t the typical platitude a coach might share retroactively, after a former player becomes an all-time great.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of platitude

Noun

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.

— Danielle McNally, InStyle, 28 May 2026
The videos are often integrated into larger montages of drone strikes, underscoring how commonplace these drones have become for Russian forces.

— Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026

Definition of commonplace

Browse Nearby Words

groaned

groaner

groaners

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Style

“Groaner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/groaner. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of groaner

noun

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