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
Kubiak and Janocko see a combination of the two archetypes in Bowers, a rare breed of tight end who can operate both inside and outside the box.
—
Sam Warren, New York Times, 2 June 2026
The blueprint for our contemporary understanding of fame and its perils, and one of the most evident and undeniable archetypes of beauty—just ask Kim Kardashian.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 1 June 2026
However, the archetype of the hallaca has always remained the same; cornmeal dough wrapped and cooked in banana leaves.
—Sophia Rey, JSTOR Daily, 28 May 2026
Kumail Nanjiani weaponizes workplace desperation into vibrant tension as rival Toyota salesman Peyton, while Kate Berlant and Colin Jost elevate the surrounding community of neighborly archetypes through charisma alone.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for archetype
Sam Warren, New York Times, 2 June 2026
The blueprint for our contemporary understanding of fame and its perils, and one of the most evident and undeniable archetypes of beauty—just ask Kim Kardashian.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 1 June 2026
However, the archetype of the hallaca has always remained the same; cornmeal dough wrapped and cooked in banana leaves.
—Sophia Rey, JSTOR Daily, 28 May 2026
Kumail Nanjiani weaponizes workplace desperation into vibrant tension as rival Toyota salesman Peyton, while Kate Berlant and Colin Jost elevate the surrounding community of neighborly archetypes through charisma alone.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for archetype
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetype
Noun
-
The French original has found success on Canal+ in France and ARD in Germany.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
12 June 2026
-
The menu offers many of the original’s most famous dishes, like the beloved lobster pancakes and lamb spare ribs.—
Connie Ogle
June 11,
Miami Herald,
11 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
-
Ponder, at 6-foot-3, 261 pounds, fits the Patriots’ prototype at the position.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
10 June 2026
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The initial system, named Eos, serves as a large-scale prototype designed to achieve steady-state fusion and test structural integrity under real operational loads.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
10 June 2026
Noun
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Mesa Verde continues to hold great cultural significance for the 27 pueblos and tribes whose ancestors once called the canyons, farms, cliffside and mesa dwellings home or who have other ties to the area.—
Alia Beard Rau,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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During the Early Devonian Period, life on land was still relatively new, and many of the ancestors of modern vertebrates had yet to emerge from the water.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
The United States plans to allow Iranian assets to be used to support rebuilding in Gulf countries impacted by future Iranian attacks, according to a source familiar with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s thinking.—
Dalia Abdelwahab,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
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The divorce has left Faith heartbroken and feeling caught in the middle, per the source.—
Allison DeGrushe,
StyleCaster,
6 June 2026
Noun
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Saturday marks one year since a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel began — a precursor to the longer ongoing war that would kick off eight months later.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
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With support from the organization that was the precursor to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, my father and grandmother immigrated to the United States aboard the General Henry Taylor.—
Alex Poppe,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Archetype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetype. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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