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
For many of us, that word conjures a specific archetype—someone with a good career, a six-figure salary, and a LinkedIn profile that reads like a highlight reel of promotions.
—
Jenna Ryu, SELF, 19 Mar. 2026
Rather than going with a classic black penguin suit, Kelly and his team, which consists of stylist Warren Alfie Baker and his groomer Jessica Ortiz, put a fun twist on the archetype by sporting a chestnut brown dinner jacket.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 16 Mar. 2026
Whether in a comedy, with slapstick archetypes, or in a serious Shakespearean tragedy, communicating subtle threats through unique gestures, gait, and facial expressions, or in a modern experimental piece, Dominic excels.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Giddey doesn’t fit any standard archetype.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for archetype
Jenna Ryu, SELF, 19 Mar. 2026
Rather than going with a classic black penguin suit, Kelly and his team, which consists of stylist Warren Alfie Baker and his groomer Jessica Ortiz, put a fun twist on the archetype by sporting a chestnut brown dinner jacket.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 16 Mar. 2026
Whether in a comedy, with slapstick archetypes, or in a serious Shakespearean tragedy, communicating subtle threats through unique gestures, gait, and facial expressions, or in a modern experimental piece, Dominic excels.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Giddey doesn’t fit any standard archetype.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for archetype
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetype
Noun
-
Recently Barnes & Noble has tried to convince more publishers to publish paperback originals, particularly for YA and middle grade books.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Clemens, attending for the first time since joining the company last year to lead international originals globally, pointed to the international acceptance of Indian content as central to the platform’s strategy.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Also like its forerunner, HBO’s latest ends each episode at a moment of peak tension.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
These were the forerunners of today’s robots.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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One afternoon in late summer, Wright pulled up his personal Proxi prototype.—
Eric Boodman,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2026
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Regularly exhibited as a prototype at construction fairs, Tiny House Shadow has made a remarkable entrance on the market.—
Annabelle Dufraigne,
Architectural Digest,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
People whose ancestors ate a lot of endosperm have extra copies of the genes that make starch‑digesting enzymes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
-
In my last visit to my village, my mother asked me to scrape some soil into my hands and whisper a prayer to my ancestors.—
Chinonso Ihekire,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Academically, no; the call for honest and accurate citation of one’s sources will, and must, ring out as forcefully as ever.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
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The Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center says the animals have played an integral role in the state's history and ecology and served as a staple food source for people living in the region as far back as the Paleo-Indian period.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Nanjiani steered the audience through the tie in the Live-Action Short category as calmly and confidently as a pilot navigating turbulence, and in the process probably bumped up his stock as a host for the precursor circuit.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
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Online reaction to the latest cease-and-desist letter sent to Campbell largely questioned why Kirk and TPUSA have not filed suit instead of issuing multiple letters, which are typically seen as a precursor to litigation.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Archetype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetype. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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