What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
proverbial
Example
He's the proverbial black sheep of the family. [proverbial: adjective]
Example
The company faced the proverbial uphill battle to regain customer trust. [proverbial: adjective]
Example
She played the role of the proverbial damsel in distress. [proverbial: adjective]
commonplace
Example
The book was filled with commonplace ideas and cliches. [commonplace: adjective]
Example
It's commonplace for people to feel stressed during exams. [commonplace: adjective]
Example
It's a commonplace that exercise is good for your health. [commonplace: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Commonplace is more commonly used than proverbial in everyday language, and it covers a wider range of contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between proverbial and commonplace?
Proverbial is more formal than commonplace, and it is often used in literary or academic contexts.
