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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of archetypal
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
Despite the contrivance, Jewson makes fascinating theater out of this, flipping the archetypal image of the ballerina, and therefore femininity, on its head and rendering it as a kind of weapon, forged by years of putting up with enormous pain, against a world beset by patriarchal violence.
—Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2026
Agnifilo previously worked under archetypal celebrity defense lawyer Ben Brafman, whose clients have included accused Mafia bosses and Michael Jackson, and represented Shkreli and Dominique Strauss-Kahn alongside Brafman before starting his own firm.
—Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 27 Jan. 2026
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
Despite the contrivance, Jewson makes fascinating theater out of this, flipping the archetypal image of the ballerina, and therefore femininity, on its head and rendering it as a kind of weapon, forged by years of putting up with enormous pain, against a world beset by patriarchal violence.
—Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2026
Agnifilo previously worked under archetypal celebrity defense lawyer Ben Brafman, whose clients have included accused Mafia bosses and Michael Jackson, and represented Shkreli and Dominique Strauss-Kahn alongside Brafman before starting his own firm.
—Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetypal
Adjective
-
Beachy handbags, light jackets, classic pearls, chunky boots—your choice of accompaniments can take things from romantic to edgy to eclectic.—
Kelsey Stiegman,
Glamour,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Many vintage fashion enthusiasts and Lilly Pulitzer collectors specifically seek out white label pieces for their classic prints, silhouettes, and legacy value.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In typical fashion, singer and fashion powerhouse Rihanna shut down the carpet as the final guest to arrive much earlier than in year’s past.—
Beatrice Dupuy,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
-
Comparing local rents to a broad measure of monthly ownership cost for a buyer – mortgage, taxes, insurance and maintenance – Zillow found the typical California renter in the six metros theoretically saved $191 monthly compared with owning.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
My son’s friend is an exemplary young man, polite and respectful in all ways except one.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
9 May 2026
-
My son’s friend is an exemplary young man — polite and respectful in all ways except one.—
Jacobina Martin,
Washington Post,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
After replanting, or if the roots look normal, keep the soil moist.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
-
But not the average, normal citizen workers.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Potato salad is the quintessential Southern potluck dish that is always welcome on the table.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
-
Steps from the Massachusetts State House and Boston Common, Beacon Hill is the city’s quintessential historic enclave.—
Cameron Sperance,
Travel + Leisure,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
Those ratings create an estimate of how many goals each team is expected to score and allow in a game against an average opponent at a neutral site.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
-
So far, the main direct threat that average Americans seem to have faced from the Iran War has been higher gasoline prices.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
This is perhaps a paradigmatic example of how AI can be useful today.—
Konstantin Kakaes,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Through it all, the 55-year-old former Fed governor exudes a confidence that is the antithesis of Harry Truman's paradigmatic two-handed economist — qualities that seemed to attract the president and might be essential in his effort to reform the staid Federal Reserve.—
Steve Liesman,Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The new approach actually cleans up some visual clutter while ratcheting up the aggression, making the DB12’s standard arrangement appear somewhat unfinished by comparison.—
Bradley Iger,
Robb Report,
8 May 2026
-
In Chile and other places where hantaviruses are more common, a standard recommendation for patients with respiratory symptoms is to swiftly transfer them to a health facility with high-level care, preferably one with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Archetypal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetypal. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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