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

By using two mediums to highlight the warm absurdity of the fairy-tale tropes, Enchanted cheekily celebrates what only animation can do.

— James Grebey, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Briefly combining the friend groups makes for a rollicking start, and Season 2 keeps spirits high by leaning on a stockpile of sitcom tropes.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 27 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

Noun

But there is a saying in the military that leadership sets the tone, and when the most senior leaders are flippant at best, and cruel at worst, many will understand that to be the permissible standard.

— Andrea N. Goldstein, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
There’s an old saying in football that the best gig is that of the assistant coach.

— JOE DAVIDSON, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of saying

Browse Nearby Words

groaned

groaner

groaners

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Groaner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/groaner. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of groaner

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes