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
Lestat remembers himself like a bit of an archetypal fairytale babe in the woods in the recounting of his human life.
—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
22 June 2026
Just over two miles south of the historic village of Tintagel, Trebarwith is a wild, archetypal north‑coast beach—a mile‑long sweep of golden sand and rocky outcrops visible only at low tide.
—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Even though the action is revoltingly real, the fighters seem almost interchangeable, cookie-cutter, and therefore even more archetypal.
—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2026
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
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
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
22 June 2026
Just over two miles south of the historic village of Tintagel, Trebarwith is a wild, archetypal north‑coast beach—a mile‑long sweep of golden sand and rocky outcrops visible only at low tide.
—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Even though the action is revoltingly real, the fighters seem almost interchangeable, cookie-cutter, and therefore even more archetypal.
—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetypal
Adjective
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Below are nine recipes featured in the special, offering everything from classic barbecue favorites to regional dishes inspired by communities across the country.
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Here, instead of the mustard that’s included in many classic potato salad recipes, sour cream, vinegar, and briny pickles team up to lend a lovely amount of tartness to cut through the richness of the potatoes, eggs, and mayo.
Adjective
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Treatments start at $49, which is a bargain compared to typical pest control treatments that cost nearly three times that amount.
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The rules called for the combatants to square off with just eight paces between them — rather than the 20 or 30 paces typical of the time — and both men hit their targets.
Adjective
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Supporters cite her exemplary conduct and family separation, while critics emphasize strict penalties for white-collar crime.
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The state specifies that exemplary damages are capped at the greater of either $200,000 or two times the amount of economic damages plus an amount equal to non-economic damages, not to exceed $750,000.
Adjective
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Shah adds that many women feel their best when ferritin levels are at least between 40 and 70 ng/ml for optimal energy and hair health, even if lab ranges suggest lower levels are ‘normal’.
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People are being asked to have their trash and recycling at the curb at least one hour prior to their normal pickup time.
Adjective
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This one in particular is quintessential to the Haitian and Dominican diaspora.
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Most recently, Danson has starred in the Netflix comedy series, A Man on the Inside and has played himself in the quintessential comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, which recently concluded its 12th and final season on HBO.
Adjective
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Conditions will bring above-average temperatures to World Cup host cities such as Boston, Philadelphia and Kansas City, Missouri, all of which have open-air stadiums.
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Forty ships transited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, according to data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler, a number still significantly lower than the average daily crossings before the war with Iran started in February.
Adjective
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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.
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This is perhaps a paradigmatic example of how AI can be useful today.
Adjective
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Its value proposition is strong since each trim comes with a long list of standard features.
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Under the standard plan, borrowers will have between 10 years and 25 years to repay their loans depending on the amount borrowed.
Cite this Entry
“Archetypal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetypal. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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