1
as in forerunners
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 originals
something from which copies are made
Beowulf is considered by some scholars to be the archetype for medieval British heroic tales
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of archetypes
Despite the jeweler’s eye for detail, though, Saariaho has created an array of archetypes, not a cast of humans who might develop, relating to one another in evolving ways.
—
Justin Davidson, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
Same polemic, just with Bush-era archetypes.
—Emma Green, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
These archetypes have existed since the beginning of time.
—Lucy Handley, Big Think, 20 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
Payton often points back to Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem from his years in New Orleans as sort of the archetypes.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
While some scholars identify mythical archetypes in news coverage, such as the hero or the outcast, others examine the narrative capacity of journalists to create mythic figures through public rituals and collective meaning-making, thereby asserting their authority in the public sphere.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026
Founder Giorgia Gabriele’s elevated take on fashion archetypes, top-notch fabrications and precise execution make such an exercise child’s play.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 2 Mar. 2026
Psychological concepts for personal growth focus on card patterns, symbols, and archetypes.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
Justin Davidson, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
Same polemic, just with Bush-era archetypes.
—Emma Green, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
These archetypes have existed since the beginning of time.
—Lucy Handley, Big Think, 20 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
Payton often points back to Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem from his years in New Orleans as sort of the archetypes.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
While some scholars identify mythical archetypes in news coverage, such as the hero or the outcast, others examine the narrative capacity of journalists to create mythic figures through public rituals and collective meaning-making, thereby asserting their authority in the public sphere.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026
Founder Giorgia Gabriele’s elevated take on fashion archetypes, top-notch fabrications and precise execution make such an exercise child’s play.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 2 Mar. 2026
Psychological concepts for personal growth focus on card patterns, symbols, and archetypes.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetypes
Noun
-
The Norwegian ended his season before the Olympics to further recover from a shoulder injury, but attended the finals as one of the forerunners, who test a course shortly before a race starts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
These were the forerunners of today’s robots.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Today, Nakamachi’s 20 years of research suggests that the cookies most of us are familiar with today were almost certainly inspired by these Japanese originals.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
After the tough situation with Elio that followed a slow box office start for 2023’s Elemental (although that movie ultimately collected a small profit), Hoppers earned sterling reviews and has surpassed $330 million at the global box office, giving hope to future originals like next year’s Gatto.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Four Freedoms awards are presented in the New Church in Middelburg, in the province of Zeeland, where Roosevelt's ancestors hail from.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Researchers studying a 250-million-year-old fossil have found the first ever proof that mammal ancestors laid eggs, with the discovery also shedding light on a remarkable survival story.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Industry estimates suggest that Tesla shipped fewer than 500 intelligent robots in 2025, highlighting the gap between prototypes and large-scale deployment.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Apr. 2026
-
In addition to rolling out prototypes, the early days of Hewlett-Packard had a big impact on the way companies operated internally.—
Chris Anderson,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Iran also spied on Iraqi positions with rudimentary precursors to drones, an early use of one of the regime’s most effective weapons in its attempt to blockade the strait.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2026
-
In March, state media reported that China arrested seven people in an operation targeting traffickers of fentanyl precursors, according to the Reuters news agency.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
On average, the study participants consumed about 41% of their daily food from ultraprocessed sources.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The fees help preserve the city’s general fund budget without having to cover the full cost of its maintenance from other sources.—
Henry Foster Iii,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There are more examples of such calculations.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The Bengals have a long history of finding productive defensive linemen in the middle rounds of the draft, with the 2010 draft adding Carlos Dunlap (Round 2) and Geno Atkins (Round 4) as the most notable examples.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Archetypes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetypes. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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