archetypal

variants also archetypical
Definition of archetypalnext
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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 archetypal Instead, the company has replaced it with another fall flavor in a clear sign that the archetypal fall flavor of the 2010s is changing with the warming globe. Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026 This certainly looked like an archetypal case of a company’s size leaving consumers worse off—precisely what our antitrust laws are designed to prevent. James Surowiecki, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026 The Soviet Union was an archetypal fragile superpower, its red star burning bright before its dramatic final implosion. Ben Bland, semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Still, the archetypal influencer in our cultural imagination is not a man reviewing watches on YouTube or hosting a podcast from his studio in Austin. Laura Jung, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026 Even in the fixedness of their forms—their sententious certitude—a single work may conflate the erotic and the machinic, the vernacular and the archetypal, the abstract and the practical. Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 16 Aug. 2026 Lestat remembers himself like a bit of an archetypal fairytale babe in the woods in the recounting of his human life. Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 22 June 2026 Just over two miles south of the historic village of Tintagel, Trebarwith is a wild, archetypal north‑coast beach—a mile‑long sweep of golden sand and rocky outcrops visible only at low tide. Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 Perhaps because Mansfield died young, at thirty-four, of tuberculosis, her adult and middle-aged characters tend to feel a bit archetypical by comparison. Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetypal
Adjective
  • If suede is more your style, these naturally water-resistant loafers are a classic pick.
    Mariana Best, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Porta platters, Emporio Sirenuse dipping bowls, classic Christofle silver, Guy Degrenne all-purpose wine glasses for wine, water, and spritzes.
    Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • In typical Zheng fashion, she’s been upfront about what she’s learned as she’s begun the long climb back to the top of the sport.
    Ava Wallace, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Look forward to a more comfortable return to typical or even slightly below-average temperatures this weekend and next week.
    Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Often referred to as the Nobel Prize of the Arts, the Praemium Imperiale recognizes exemplary achievements by artists around the world working in painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and theater and film.
    News Desk, Artforum, 8 Sep. 2026
  • All told, Trinity Valley must pay Skains just over $10 million intended to cover harm to her mental health and reputation, unpaid wages and benefits, and exemplary damages, according to the verdict.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • You literally get paid time to give back during normal work hours.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The catastrophe left Miami’s airport operating with just two of its normal four runways on a busy Labor Day and raised questions about whether the facility needs better equipment to prevent an overshooting aircraft from leaving airport property.
    Maria Aguilar Prieto, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Back at home, however, Smith looks like the quintessential suburban mom.
    Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026
  • In fact, Gap is encouraging customers to recommit to these quintessential apparel releases with its first-ever handbag collection.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The Lions recorded the third-slowest average time to pressure last season.
    Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Before this year,the national average price for gas on Labor Day had never been above $4 a gallon.
    Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • In the most American of stories, the Idaho potato, forming half of the paradigmatic American meal (a burger and fries), only became a paradigm when gold was discovered in Idaho in 1860.
    Tamar Adler, Vogue, 3 June 2026
  • This is perhaps a paradigmatic example of how AI can be useful today.
    Konstantin Kakaes, Quanta Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • In standard Series 62 form, the engine produced around 210 hp, giving the big Cadillac plenty of muscle for its era.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2026
  • When blended with usual pancake ingredients, like flour, sugar, and leaveners, silken tofu acts as a binder, much like eggs in a standard recipe.
    Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Archetypal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetypal. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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