archetypes

plural of archetype
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

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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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of archetypes This, in turn, reflects our experiences here on planet Earth, giving spiritual meaning to the cycles of time, not just through planetary movements but through the cosmos' mythological archetypes. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025 Using the six archetypes for the future of HR as a guide, leaders can identify their team’s strengths and help people build skills to succeed in the AI age. Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 One relies on physics, mathematics, and observation; the other on archetypes, intuition, and symbolism. Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 7 Sep. 2025 Other wardrobe archetypes will be included in the collection, too, such as a bomber jacket crafted from dark denim or black leather and a leather trenchcoat. Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 29 Aug. 2025 These archetypes prioritize risk tolerance, strategic planning, and transparency, according to OneStream. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025 Loïs Boisson and Victoria Mboko’s rises have all the hallmarks of a tennis fairytale, the sudden thrust into stardom that constitutes the Cinderella story, one of the most enduring archetypes in sports. Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025 Both display varying forms of feminine archetypes. Essence, 21 Aug. 2025 And each approached the figure of the gun-toting, knife-wielding badass from her own point of view, creating archetypes that are still in use today. Katie Rife, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetypes
Noun
  • Among more than 20 originals coming out this year on the platform is Hindi-language drama Real Kashmir Football Club, which seeks to tell the story of two men who built Kashmir’s first professional men’s football club.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Aside from these Netflix originals, the streaming platform is also home to a vast number of other documentary films and series that will surely stand the test of time and span a variety of topics.
    Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This is where our ancestors died protecting a way of life.
    Richard B. Williams, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025
  • By this time, humans had arrived in North America, likely via the same Bering Land Bridge used by the lions’ ancestors.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Only two prototypes were ever made before IAI's investors, considering the company risky after the Cat's market failure and little money coming in, finally pulled the plug and caused the company to shut down in 1992.
    Cameron Kaiser, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The analytics community has since poured gasoline on these prototypes, helping teams create blueprints for their scheme based on size and measureables.
    Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Events once considered rare—like the 2003 Northeast blackout that hit 50 million people—are now seen as precursors of larger disruptions.
    Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Tarnopolsky recommends against the precursors since much more evidence supports the finished product.
    Matt Fuchs, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • And more than 60 million Americans rely on drinking water from rivers and aquifers whose sources are within national forests.
    Ryan Gellert, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The #Eagles’ trade for Tank Bigsby is in part due to a need for another kick returner, sources say.
    Matt Wadleigh, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The lawsuit cites examples of passengers who were charged or denied service.
    Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The exact citation reportedly appears in a University of Victoria style guide, a document that teaches students how to format references using fictional examples.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Archetypes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetypes. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

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