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
So the anxieties that swirl around the prospects for the American Republic now, 250 years on, were there right from the beginning because of that consciousness of the Roman archetype.
—
Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2026
Ishaq has made a film peopled with women and boys who go beyond simple archetypes, setting joyful female solidarity against omnipresent conflict in a way designed to communicate with a broad demographic.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 May 2026
When there is only room for one kind of person at the host’s desk—however appealing that archetype may be—those who want to hear different voices might stop listening.
—Judy Berman, Time, 22 May 2026
But there’s no archetype like (Wembanyama) — no player ever.
—Sam Amick, New York Times, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for archetype
Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2026
Ishaq has made a film peopled with women and boys who go beyond simple archetypes, setting joyful female solidarity against omnipresent conflict in a way designed to communicate with a broad demographic.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 May 2026
When there is only room for one kind of person at the host’s desk—however appealing that archetype may be—those who want to hear different voices might stop listening.
—Judy Berman, Time, 22 May 2026
But there’s no archetype like (Wembanyama) — no player ever.
—Sam Amick, New York Times, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for archetype
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetype
Noun
-
The decision to launch Allen’s show in Colbert’s time slot on a Friday was surprising, because none of the current crop of late-night programs airs originals regularly on Fridays, meaning the audience does not regularly tune to them in typical numbers.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
29 May 2026
-
Arcade, the management firm formed to represent the Sidemen, earlier this year hired Connor Suckling, a former News UK and LADbible originals executive, as Head of Original Video to lead on IP development and originals.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Under Revie, over the course of the next 13 seasons, Leeds won promotion, were champions of England twice, won the League Cup, the FA Cup and twice lifted the Fairs Cup (the forerunner of the UEFA Cup, now the Europa League).—
Michael Walker,
New York Times,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
The prototype was integrated with low-loss superconducting windings, a novel brushless starting mechanism, and internal cryogenic cooling that functions while spinning.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
-
Inspired by wetland plants like mangroves, 12-year-old Ella Barth and Esme Tsai’s prototype glass funnel uses layers of coffee filter paper, gravel, sand, ion exchange resin, charcoal and cotton, mimicking a natural filtration process to help rid local tap water of its chalky taste.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Our ancestors—the hard-working, long-suffering peasant women who told these stories to each other and passed them down the generations through the oral tradition—knew everything there was to know about adversity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
The contest also encouraged students to think of ways to prevent water pollution, and how our ancestors may have loved to save water.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Hours into free agency opening March 9, Singleton remained unsigned — and had a skeleton deal lined up with another NFL team in free agency if negotiations with the Broncos fell through, according to a source familiar with the process.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
Residents are also encouraged to keep pets confined to their property and remove outdoor food sources that may attract wildlife.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Tort claims are typically filed as a precursor to a lawsuit.—
Rose Evans
Updated May 29,
Idaho Statesman,
29 May 2026
-
But the true precursor to the UFC Octagon might be the wrestling cage.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Archetype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetype. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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