1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of archetype
Ingram fit the modern archetype of a big, shot-making wing with solid ballhandling ability, the physical gifts to shoot over the top of the defense with a high release point and a 7-foot-4 wingspan, and a creative mindset.
—
Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 19 June 2025
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (1615) $14 $25 now 44% off
One of the oldest novels (first published in the early 1600s) that’s still widely read, this Spanish classic has got to be the oldest comic novel in existence, and one that provided many archetypes of Western comedy.
—Brian Boone, Vulture, 18 June 2025
On December 27, 1908, Boy Staunton (a literal boy, double-underlining Davies’s interest in archetypes) throws a snowball with a stone concealed in it at his friend Duncan.
—Casey Cep, New Yorker, 6 June 2025
The archetype of the Siren is very symbolized by femininity and feminism, and power and allure.
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for archetype
Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 19 June 2025
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (1615) $14 $25 now 44% off
One of the oldest novels (first published in the early 1600s) that’s still widely read, this Spanish classic has got to be the oldest comic novel in existence, and one that provided many archetypes of Western comedy.
—Brian Boone, Vulture, 18 June 2025
On December 27, 1908, Boy Staunton (a literal boy, double-underlining Davies’s interest in archetypes) throws a snowball with a stone concealed in it at his friend Duncan.
—Casey Cep, New Yorker, 6 June 2025
The archetype of the Siren is very symbolized by femininity and feminism, and power and allure.
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for archetype
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetype
Noun
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This is, in part, explained by the institutional memory of the competition’s forerunner — the Intercontinental Cup — and the legendary battles of a bygone era.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
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Another forerunner of today’s scene is Ansedonia, a hillside community of upscale homes near Capalbio that in the 1960s became popular with creative types from the Italian capital.—
Lee Marshall,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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His Tron sequel arrived 28 years after the Disney original, which had revolutionized visual effects back in 1982 with its action-adventure set inside a video game.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
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Banijay Asia has successfully localized international formats while developing Indian originals.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
26 June 2025
Noun
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The gift of 'The Mahabharata' that my ancestors gave me is truly the gift that keeps giving.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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The same ancestor who founded this homestead left his own family behind in Georgia; that cold resolve is Hailey’s inheritance too.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2025
Noun
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By 2019, his startup team had built a prototype and launched a DTC subscription model, pairing a predictable market with luxury branding.—
Tanya Benedicto Klich,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
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Seed funding from investors, accelerators, or venture funds helps founders take the first critical steps: building a prototype, hiring that first team member, or testing their idea in the real world.—
Rob Zielonka,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2025
Noun
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Organizations can measure psychological safety data as a precursor to inclusion.—
Julie Kratz,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
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Washington said the firms funneled money to Chinese firms that produce the precursors for fentanyl, the powerful synthetic opioid that has stoked a drug epidemic in the US.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Effective personalization doesn’t have to stretch every data source to its limit.—
Shiva Chandrashekher,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Open source robotics with a strong community focus Everything about the BHL robot is open source.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Archetype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetype. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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