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
But Pynchon is also funny, and the disorientation of his novels gives ways to discovery, and un-tangling, and the characters have goofy names that allude to their archetypal nature.
—
Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
This sentiment identifies her as the show’s audience surrogate—the archetypal true crime fangirl.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Oct. 2025
In isolation, the scenario is an archetypal neurosis long familiar to Asian American men, often cast near the bottom of the dating ladder in the United States.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
The photographer’s favorite Chinatown is, nonetheless, the archetypal one — San Francisco’s, which although largely rebuilt following the 1906 earthquake was founded during the California Gold Rush in the late 1840s.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Villa do not have an archetypal right-winger following Bailey’s departure.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Gaza also has a Biblical presence, associated with the Philistines, the archetypal enemy of the Israelites.
—Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2025
But given that finally writing that book is the archetypal one-day retirement dream for a lot of people, McGilchrist’s advice is especially pertinent.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 14 Aug. 2025
Today’s clients aren’t just heiresses and socialites—such as the archetypal ladies who lunched Nan Kempner and Lynn Wyatt—they’re young tech founders, wealthy aesthetes, and archivists.
—Chloe Russell Kent, Air Mail, 9 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
This sentiment identifies her as the show’s audience surrogate—the archetypal true crime fangirl.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Oct. 2025
In isolation, the scenario is an archetypal neurosis long familiar to Asian American men, often cast near the bottom of the dating ladder in the United States.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
The photographer’s favorite Chinatown is, nonetheless, the archetypal one — San Francisco’s, which although largely rebuilt following the 1906 earthquake was founded during the California Gold Rush in the late 1840s.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Villa do not have an archetypal right-winger following Bailey’s departure.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Gaza also has a Biblical presence, associated with the Philistines, the archetypal enemy of the Israelites.
—Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2025
But given that finally writing that book is the archetypal one-day retirement dream for a lot of people, McGilchrist’s advice is especially pertinent.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 14 Aug. 2025
Today’s clients aren’t just heiresses and socialites—such as the archetypal ladies who lunched Nan Kempner and Lynn Wyatt—they’re young tech founders, wealthy aesthetes, and archivists.
—Chloe Russell Kent, Air Mail, 9 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetypal
Adjective
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And don’t forget to book a table at the bijou Il Piccolo restaurant, comprising just nine tables to offer—in the spirit of Violino d’Oro more broadly—subtle, meticulously executed riffs on classic Venetian fare and the flavors of the lagoon.—
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
13 Oct. 2025
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From classic stud earrings to trendy chunky rings, here are the best jewelry gifts to shop this season.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Voronkov skated by the Columbus bench for the typical goal celebration anyway.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
-
What would be a typical work outfit for you?—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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With cozy inns, harborfront dining, and small-town charm, Rockport is a quintessential New England getaway year-round.—
Megan Margulies,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Oct. 2025
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While these two colors are quintessential autumn hues, this season has put a spotlight on them, with many people opting for monochromatic looks in the two rich shades.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Although his average size (6-0 1/4, 232) stands out, Fisher’s speed and instincts stand out even more.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
At the end of June, the company had 849,643 active memberships, with its members spending, on average, $888 on monthly dues and additional services over a three-month period from April through June.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The 1994 slaughter of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda became the paradigmatic example, prosecuted at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and recognized by the UN Security Council.—
Faisal Kutty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Though beloved by many straight men for the wrong reasons, the central character in American Psycho — a movie directed by a woman, written by a woman, and based on a novel written by a gay man — has always been paradigmatic of repressed same-sex desire.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In other hands, this would cue a standard disease-of-the-week weepie, but Coixet keeps the tone lightly wistful and wise, and trains her attention ever more minutely on Rohrwacher, who along with her character, seems to blossom gradually under this steady gaze.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
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Patients with and without eosinophilia were compared, with eosinophilia defined as ≥350 eosinophils per microliter of blood – a mild threshold, slightly lower than the standard 500 eosinophils per microliter.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Studies in recent years have gone back and forth on the topic, with no definitive conclusion.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The definitive ranking of the women at the top of the global business world tells us both who wields power today and who is poised to climb even higher tomorrow.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Israel then tightened a land-sea-air blockade of the territory, which made normal governance impossible and turned every budget line into a permit request.—
Mohammed R. Mhawish,
New Yorker,
14 Oct. 2025
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The cells measure nine square meters (nearly 97 square foot), no bigger than normal cells, although residents in this special wing aren’t required to share a cell, typically out of concern for their safety.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Archetypal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetypal. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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