1
as in original
something from which copies are made
Beowulf is considered by some scholars to be the archetype for medieval British heroic tales
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in forerunner
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
the abacus is sometimes cited as the archetype of the modern digital calculator
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of archetype
There’s a familiar archetype for this kind of purchase.
—
Lindsey Harn, Fortune, 6 June 2026
What drew her into a specific archetype or motif?
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Her take on the ‘Latina baddie’ archetype may be the show’s most memorable performance.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
His concept of the collective unconscious, a universal element of the human mind connecting past and present, was fundamental to her understanding of images and the interconnected nature of ancient archetypes.
—Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for archetype
Lindsey Harn, Fortune, 6 June 2026
What drew her into a specific archetype or motif?
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Her take on the ‘Latina baddie’ archetype may be the show’s most memorable performance.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
His concept of the collective unconscious, a universal element of the human mind connecting past and present, was fundamental to her understanding of images and the interconnected nature of ancient archetypes.
—Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for archetype
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetype
Noun
-
This story’s author, StyleCaster contributing writer Jessie Quinn, loves a good deal and scours the internet to find the best fashion dupes, such as Bogg bag lookalikes and a Baggu crescent bag that is so similar to the original.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
19 June 2026
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But whereas the original was designed to consolidate an American victory, this one is designed to manage the consequences of a defeat that pushes the United States closer to disengaging from the Middle East.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
In 2007, the Oatley family opened Qualia, their 30-acre flagship property and the forerunner of Australia’s luxury lodges.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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While Bass remains widely viewed as the forerunner, recent polling suggests the race might be tightening heading into the final days before the June 2 primary.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Wednesday's mission was the 14th Amazon Leo launch overall (counting the flight of two prototype spacecraft in October 2023), and the third performed by an Ariane 6.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
17 June 2026
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The prototype was first photographed on the production line at United Aircraft’s facility in Wuhu, Anhui province, in October 2024.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
For our hunter-gatherer ancestors, getting enough of these critical nutrients was a daily life-and-death struggle.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
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The acreage had been owned by Ruth Moore’s ancestors, the Toof family, who named it Graceland.—
Elizabeth Stamp,
Architectural Digest,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The decision was made due to logistical challenges and in hopes of avoiding delays that might derail the negotiation process, one source said.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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Renner also grilled election officials about whether or not post office officials had backdated postmarks on mail ballots sent after election day so they could still be counted, the source said.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
Noun
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Earth-impacting shrapnel from those primordial upheavals may have helped seed our planet with the precursors for life, delivering water and organic compounds from the dark, icy depths of the outer solar system.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
18 June 2026
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Scouts and Raiders is billed as telling the true origin story of the WWII commando unit of the same name, a precursor to the Navy SEALs, including its heavy recruitment of collegiate and professional football players.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Archetype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetype. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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