variants
also archetypical
1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of archetypal
Perhaps because Mansfield died young, at thirty-four, of tuberculosis, her adult and middle-aged characters tend to feel a bit archetypical by comparison.
—
Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
In its archetypal form, the seduction plot features a sybaritic aristocrat who attempts to debauch an upstanding daughter of the bourgeoisie.
—Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
In a region known for its rolling landscapes, romantic hill towns, and outstanding cuisine, Val d’Orcia is the archetypal Tuscany.
—Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2026
The Yellow Jacket Lackey is the archetypal late bloomer.
—Teddy Cahill, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Seven artists wer shown including painter Apostolos Georgiou, and sculptor Koula Savvidou, whose hybrid sculptural figures made from plaster, metal, wood, and found materials, tend to read as fragmented, mythic bodies—somewhere between human, animal, and archetypal form.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
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
In Silicon Valley, there are a handful of archetypal leaders, like Steve Jobs as the visionary or Zuckerberg as the engineer.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 6 May 2026
Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
In its archetypal form, the seduction plot features a sybaritic aristocrat who attempts to debauch an upstanding daughter of the bourgeoisie.
—Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
In a region known for its rolling landscapes, romantic hill towns, and outstanding cuisine, Val d’Orcia is the archetypal Tuscany.
—Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2026
The Yellow Jacket Lackey is the archetypal late bloomer.
—Teddy Cahill, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Seven artists wer shown including painter Apostolos Georgiou, and sculptor Koula Savvidou, whose hybrid sculptural figures made from plaster, metal, wood, and found materials, tend to read as fragmented, mythic bodies—somewhere between human, animal, and archetypal form.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
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
In Silicon Valley, there are a handful of archetypal leaders, like Steve Jobs as the visionary or Zuckerberg as the engineer.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetypal
Adjective
-
For a classic SoHo pastime, walk the shopping streets of Canal and Broadway– then back down Spring and place your bags back at the hotel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 June 2026
-
As classic cars prepare to roll onto the Mother Road and communities across eight states launch centennial celebrations, organizers hope the milestone serves not only as a tribute to history but as a call to preserve what comes next.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
Once the Islander opened the door, in typical Love Island USA fashion, they were prompted to kiss the other islanders with common interests.—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
9 June 2026
-
In the Veritasium video, Humphreys speculated that the Russians may have been testing the satellites’ GPS interference capabilities only briefly on a neighboring frequency adjacent to the typical GPS band.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
The xenophobic law meant that Yiddish-speaking Jews and Italians seeking to vote could be required to recite and write passages from the state Constitution, regardless of their level of education in their native tongues or whether their conduct as new Americans was exemplary.—
Robert Polner,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2026
-
Although, the Mobi Fold has an exemplary advantage in its replaceable, rechargeable battery.—
Scharon Harding,
ArsTechnica,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Now that the garden is complete aside from normal plant replacements, Sterman recognizes it as the expression of her own evolution and growth as a garden designer as well as changing views on waterwise gardening.—
Nicole Sours Larson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 June 2026
-
The West Coast is also bracing for rising temperatures, with highs climbing to 10 to 25 degrees above normal this weekend.—
Christine Rapp,
NBC news,
13 June 2026
Adjective
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In a city flush with newness, Dan Tana's is a quintessential red-sauce joint and bastion of Old Hollywood.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 June 2026
-
The Mariner North Low-key, unassuming, and friendly , this is the quintessential Michigan UP restaurant.—
Robert Annis,
Midwest Living,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
Conversely, the department said its review of medical school admissions data from 2023 to 2025 found that 93% of white and certain Asian applicants had MCAT scores at or above those of the average Black student.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
In 2012, the average American adult shifted focus after 74 seconds; today, that’s down to 47 seconds.—
Christian Perry,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
In the most American of stories, the Idaho potato, forming half of the paradigmatic American meal (a burger and fries), only became a paradigm when gold was discovered in Idaho in 1860.—
Tamar Adler,
Vogue,
3 June 2026
-
This is perhaps a paradigmatic example of how AI can be useful today.—
Konstantin Kakaes,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Over the last few years, the world of emissions standard setting has become increasingly contentious, so much so that even a few words can trigger a fight about whether companies are getting off the hook or being held to account.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
12 June 2026
-
For energy and recovery, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and hsCRP often reveal issues years before standard labs.—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Archetypal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetypal. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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