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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of archetypal
That’s about half of what archetypal metal-bender General Motors garnered in the same span.
—
Shawn Tully, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
Vicario is also not the archetypal Frank goalkeeper.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
The archetypal climbers were young men without families to feed or full-time jobs to hold down, free to devote their waking hours to becoming one with the rock.
—Kelli María Korducki, HubSpot, 17 Oct. 2025
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
Gaza also has a Biblical presence, associated with the Philistines, the archetypal enemy of the Israelites.
—Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2025
Shawn Tully, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
Vicario is also not the archetypal Frank goalkeeper.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
The archetypal climbers were young men without families to feed or full-time jobs to hold down, free to devote their waking hours to becoming one with the rock.
—Kelli María Korducki, HubSpot, 17 Oct. 2025
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
Gaza also has a Biblical presence, associated with the Philistines, the archetypal enemy of the Israelites.
—Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetypal
Adjective
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The aesthetic is defined by deep red and forest green tartans, warm lighting, elevated accents, and sophisticated dinnerware that evokes classic holiday charm with a polished Americana flair.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
4 Nov. 2025
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Contemporary managers, executives and umpires will be considered in December 2026, while classic era candidates will be viewed in December 2027.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
All are dressed in period garb — Clarkson in a gorgeous gown and her band, My Band Y’all, led by musical director and keyboardist Jason Halbert, in formal white dinner jackets typical of musical acts at the time.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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Alternatives to typical iron supplements to consider include intravenous (IV) iron, slow-release oral iron tablets, and dietary iron.—
Emmanuella Ogbonna,
Health,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Saodimallsu Oversized Mini Sweater Dress This is the quintessential LBD of lightweight sweater dresses.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Oct. 2025
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This jambalaya needs just four hours on low before the quintessential flavors of New Orleans will be yours to devour.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Sunderland have conceded the third-most shots in the division, but the average quality of those efforts has been low.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Combined with the loss of enhanced subsidies, some people could pay 114%, on average, more in premiums, Cox said.—
Berkeley Lovelace Jr,
NBC news,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
After all, in the early days of literacy, reading—now perhaps the paradigmatic example of a non-screen-time activity—was considered ominous; people reading silently to themselves might have seemed demented.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
23 Oct. 2025
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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
Adjective
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The early tickets are available for a number of formats, including IMAX, Digital 3D and 4DX, in addition to standard screenings.—
Tim Chan,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Nov. 2025
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That is $45,540 a year, meaning rent alone would take up roughly 54% of gross income—well above the standard 30% affordability threshold.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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One of the coolest phenomenons—lights that defy a definitive scientific explanation—predate the park designation.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
28 Oct. 2025
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However, at least five expeditions to the island and the surrounding waters since 2010 have failed to find definitive proof that Earhart and Noonan were castaways.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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One commenter shared with OP that this behavior is normal and that kids can often switch their preference between parents.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
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Having never worked at a place that wasn’t a scam center, the more experienced among them came to see their jobs as normal.—
Snigdha Poonam,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Archetypal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetypal. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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