variants
also archetypical
1
as in classic
constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated
St. Peter's basilica in Rome is considered by some art historians to be the archetypal structure in the baroque style
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in typical
having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind
the movie's hero is pretty archetypal, lacking in any distinctive qualities that would distinguish him from countless other masked avengers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of archetypal
The archetypal trickster reemerged in popular culture in the 1970s, driven by the disillusionment and violence of the Vietnam War era.
—
Time, 30 Oct. 2025
That’s about half of what archetypal metal-bender General Motors garnered in the same span.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
Vicario is also not the archetypal Frank goalkeeper.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
The archetypal climbers were young men without families to feed or full-time jobs to hold down, free to devote their waking hours to becoming one with the rock.
—Kelli María Korducki, HubSpot, 17 Oct. 2025
But Pynchon is also funny, and the disorientation of his novels gives ways to discovery, and un-tangling, and the characters have goofy names that allude to their archetypal nature.
—Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
In isolation, the scenario is an archetypal neurosis long familiar to Asian American men, often cast near the bottom of the dating ladder in the United States.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
The photographer’s favorite Chinatown is, nonetheless, the archetypal one — San Francisco’s, which although largely rebuilt following the 1906 earthquake was founded during the California Gold Rush in the late 1840s.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Gaza also has a Biblical presence, associated with the Philistines, the archetypal enemy of the Israelites.
—Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2025
Time, 30 Oct. 2025
That’s about half of what archetypal metal-bender General Motors garnered in the same span.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
Vicario is also not the archetypal Frank goalkeeper.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
The archetypal climbers were young men without families to feed or full-time jobs to hold down, free to devote their waking hours to becoming one with the rock.
—Kelli María Korducki, HubSpot, 17 Oct. 2025
But Pynchon is also funny, and the disorientation of his novels gives ways to discovery, and un-tangling, and the characters have goofy names that allude to their archetypal nature.
—Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
In isolation, the scenario is an archetypal neurosis long familiar to Asian American men, often cast near the bottom of the dating ladder in the United States.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
The photographer’s favorite Chinatown is, nonetheless, the archetypal one — San Francisco’s, which although largely rebuilt following the 1906 earthquake was founded during the California Gold Rush in the late 1840s.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Gaza also has a Biblical presence, associated with the Philistines, the archetypal enemy of the Israelites.
—Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetypal
Adjective
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The aesthetic is defined by deep red and forest green tartans, warm lighting, elevated accents, and sophisticated dinnerware that evokes classic holiday charm with a polished Americana flair.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
4 Nov. 2025
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Contemporary managers, executives and umpires will be considered in December 2026, while classic era candidates will be viewed in December 2027.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The Midea Flexify Air Fryer isn’t your typical air fryer.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Nearby Leyte and northern parts of Mindanao, both populous islands in the center of the country, saw between 150 and 250 mm (6 to 10 inches) of rain in only 24 hours — well above the typical monthly rainfall for November.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Both were exemplary but had to be substituted due to injury.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Now, he’s being remembered as an exemplary leader.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Delays start to increase On Day 31 of the 2019 shutdown, 10% of TSA workers called in sick - triple the normal absence rate.—
Doyinsola Oladipo,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Even though there were rumors about layoffs the day before, everything had seemed relatively normal.—
Lea Chen,
CNBC,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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For a festive look both indoors and out, garlands and wreaths offer that quintessential winter charm.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The two contributed to a decade widely regarded as the Dead’s most adventurous, playing in the band from 1971 to 1979, and appearing on the quintessential live album Europe ‘72.—
Shirley Halperin,
Rolling Stone,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The health research nonprofit KFF said the amount people pay for coverage will rise by 114 percent on average.—
Nathaniel Weixel,
The Hill,
6 Nov. 2025
-
At the same time, employer health benefit plans are also predicted to see an average increase of over 6 percent in cost next year.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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After all, in the early days of literacy, reading—now perhaps the paradigmatic example of a non-screen-time activity—was considered ominous; people reading silently to themselves might have seemed demented.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
23 Oct. 2025
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The 1994 slaughter of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda became the paradigmatic example, prosecuted at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and recognized by the UN Security Council.—
Faisal Kutty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The early tickets are available for a number of formats, including IMAX, Digital 3D and 4DX, in addition to standard screenings.—
Tim Chan,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Nov. 2025
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That is $45,540 a year, meaning rent alone would take up roughly 54% of gross income—well above the standard 30% affordability threshold.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Archetypal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetypal. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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