ARCHETYPICAL Synonyms: 161 Similar and Opposite Words

archetypal

adjective

variants also archetypical

as in classic

constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated St. Peter's basilica in Rome is considered by some art historians to be the archetypal structure in the baroque style

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in typical

having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind the movie's hero is pretty archetypal, lacking in any distinctive qualities that would distinguish him from countless other masked avengers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 archetypal But being able to use the environment in surprising ways matched the surprising depth and detail with which the actors were able to realize characters that could be somewhat archetypal. —

Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 20 May 2026 The Beachcomber Cafe Between Laguna Beach and Newport Beach, and set directly on the sand within Crystal Cove State Park, The Beachcomber remains one of Orange County’s most archetypal dining setups, where waves crash just beyond the patio railing and diners often arrive barefoot from the beach. —

Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 13 May 2026 Instead of contradicting Austen’s depictions, the series adds context and interiority, giving Mary a growth arc that highlights her similarities to the author’s archetypal heroines. —

Judy Berman, Time, 6 May 2026 Kelli Reynolds is a script supervisor for Inspiration, the language learning model that has copyrighted not just archetypal characters, but all tropes and plot beats, so that no human can access or create new stories. —

Literary Hub, 1 May 2026 But beyond that, this conflict has a dramatic, even archetypal, quality to it, pitting polar opposites against each other. —

Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026 Billy Idol, their frontman, was a member of the Bromley Contingent, an influential cluster of Pistols acolytes on the early punk scene, alongside Siouxsie Sioux and the archetypal model Soo Catwoman. —

Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 5 Apr. 2026 This archetypal hamburger and shake joint, founded in September 1956, initially had a long counter and about four tables. —

Usa Today Network, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026 Shearer and Greaves are considered among the archetypal greatest centre-forwards in the English game, but that accolade now solely belongs to Kane, whose goalscoring achievements in England and Germany are remarkable. —

The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetypal

Adjective

Unlike many faux-jean pants that always look a little off, these still have that classic denim look.

— Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 20 May 2026
The whole property is basically a lending library with new, vintage, and unusual tomes scattered throughout for borrowing while onsite, from Toni Morrison’s Beloved to classic National Geographic photography books.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 May 2026