exemplary
adjective
ex·em·pla·ry
ig-ˈzem-plə-rē 
1
a
: deserving imitation : commendable
his courage was exemplary
also
: deserving imitation because of excellence
they serve exemplary pastries —
G. V. Higgins
G. V. Higgins
b
: serving as a pattern
2
: serving as an example, instance, or illustration
this story is exemplary of her style
3
: serving as a warning : monitory
given an exemplary punishment
Examples of exemplary in a Sentence
Each cantina has its own style, but almost all of them share several key traits: uniformed waiters offering exemplary service, a trio of musicians strolling from table to table playing songs on request, lots of men playing dominoes, plenty of good tequila and cold beer, and tasty home-cooked botanas (snacks) served free with each round of drinks.
—Chris Humphrey, National Geographic Traveler, September 2008
A few Hollywood couples stayed hitched—Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, 50 years and counting—but such exemplary marriages had less entertainment value than the connubial career of, say, Elizabeth Taylor, eight times wed and divorced, including two volatile turns with Richard Burton.
—Richard Corliss, Time, 28 Jan. 2008
Among the most important factors that distinguished the best Civil War regiments from the mediocre ones were the quality and exemplary courage of their officers.
—James M. McPherson, New York Review of Books, 6 Oct. 2005
as a hospital volunteer you have given exemplary service to your community
armies have traditionally used public execution as an exemplary punishment for the crime of desertion
Chris Humphrey, National Geographic Traveler, September 2008
A few Hollywood couples stayed hitched—Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, 50 years and counting—but such exemplary marriages had less entertainment value than the connubial career of, say, Elizabeth Taylor, eight times wed and divorced, including two volatile turns with Richard Burton.
—Richard Corliss, Time, 28 Jan. 2008
Among the most important factors that distinguished the best Civil War regiments from the mediocre ones were the quality and exemplary courage of their officers.
—James M. McPherson, New York Review of Books, 6 Oct. 2005
as a hospital volunteer you have given exemplary service to your community
armies have traditionally used public execution as an exemplary punishment for the crime of desertion
Recent Examples on the Web
Though often considered difficult to breed in captivity, this collection of four egg-bearing males acts as a beacon of hope for the future of marine wildlife conservation, ultimately highlighting the need for exemplary zoos and aquariums to support the battle for preserving global biodiversity.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
A day after dicing up one of the sport’s toughest courses (65), Burns backed it up with another exemplary performance.
—Justin Ray, New York Times, 15 June 2025
Additionally, incentives like awards and recognition programs can highlight exemplary contributions to risk assessment and mitigation, fostering a culture of responsibility within the community.
—Ludovic Righetti, IEEE Spectrum, 10 June 2025
Shawn Colvin and Rodney Crowell Two exemplary singer/songwriters known for deeply emotional lyrics join up on June 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for exemplary
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Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
A day after dicing up one of the sport’s toughest courses (65), Burns backed it up with another exemplary performance.
—Justin Ray, New York Times, 15 June 2025
Additionally, incentives like awards and recognition programs can highlight exemplary contributions to risk assessment and mitigation, fostering a culture of responsibility within the community.
—Ludovic Righetti, IEEE Spectrum, 10 June 2025
Shawn Colvin and Rodney Crowell Two exemplary singer/songwriters known for deeply emotional lyrics join up on June 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for exemplary
Cite this Entry
“Exemplary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exemplary. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exemplary
adjective
ex·em·pla·ry
ig-ˈzem-plə-rē
: deserving to be imitated : commendable
exemplary behavior
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