1
as in examples
one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like
the village's Congregational church could serve as an exemplar of the white clapboard church with a steeple that is a fixture in old New England towns
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in models
someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation
few of history's heroes were quite the exemplars that generations of schoolteachers made them out to be
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in classics
the most perfect type or example
the paintings of the French painter Claude Monet are often regarded as exemplars of Impressionism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of exemplars
The Dutch — forebears of our city and exemplars of cycling culture — require fast e-bikes to be licensed and insured as mopeds.
—
Sameer Butt, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
These warblers now join Amazonian butterflies, cichlid fish in Africa, as well as our own hominid lineage, as exemplars of this process of evolutionary sharing.
—David Toews, The Conversation, 11 Dec. 2025
One of the exemplars of the Rams’ depth at the position has been reserve right tackle Warren McClendon Jr.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 4 Dec. 2025
And yet, despite all of this, the Gateses have become exemplars for a kind of quaint-seeming, Andrew Carnegie–esque model of wealth, intent on returning their extraordinary resources to society.
—Chloe Schama, Vogue, 18 Nov. 2025
Intricate—and literally time-consuming—works of moving art of this caliber are seldom seen outside elite museums, where 18th-century exemplars often sit within glass vitrines.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 26 Oct. 2025
As far as exemplars go, those inclined to offer wardrobe support could find a better follow and a better way.
—Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
Young athletes at the Pop Warner, high school and college levels often look to NFL players as exemplars of competitive conduct.
—Ron Mix, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025
To address this issue, leaders can clearly communicate expectations regarding responsiveness and serve as exemplars of healthy work habits.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Sameer Butt, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
These warblers now join Amazonian butterflies, cichlid fish in Africa, as well as our own hominid lineage, as exemplars of this process of evolutionary sharing.
—David Toews, The Conversation, 11 Dec. 2025
One of the exemplars of the Rams’ depth at the position has been reserve right tackle Warren McClendon Jr.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 4 Dec. 2025
And yet, despite all of this, the Gateses have become exemplars for a kind of quaint-seeming, Andrew Carnegie–esque model of wealth, intent on returning their extraordinary resources to society.
—Chloe Schama, Vogue, 18 Nov. 2025
Intricate—and literally time-consuming—works of moving art of this caliber are seldom seen outside elite museums, where 18th-century exemplars often sit within glass vitrines.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 26 Oct. 2025
As far as exemplars go, those inclined to offer wardrobe support could find a better follow and a better way.
—Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
Young athletes at the Pop Warner, high school and college levels often look to NFL players as exemplars of competitive conduct.
—Ron Mix, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025
To address this issue, leaders can clearly communicate expectations regarding responsiveness and serve as exemplars of healthy work habits.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exemplars
Noun
-
Clement responded that the better yardstick would be another pro league that is protected by the SBA, with the NBA, MLB, and NHL the most plausible examples.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Customizing and scaling up While the examples provided here are unique to the communities that designed them, and might not resonate in the same way in other places, AI offers a platform for educators and families to create their own resources and experiences.—
Andres Bustamante,
The Conversation,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These efficiency gains mean that hybrids using the Amorphous Motor in their powertrains will see a 1% reduction in fuel and power consumption compared to those using existing motor designs, helping automotive OEMs deliver a new generation of low-emission vehicle models, as per the release.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
-
While some models are partly automated, manufacturers say crews still require training to use them effectively.—
Samya Kullab,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Soon after, classics became increasingly embroiled in America’s culture wars.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
-
In 2026, drivers will find a fresh crop of modern classics alongside the time-capsule treasures.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Eight months ago, production designers Misty Buckley and Alana Billingsley began proposing new ideas for the 2026 Academy Awards stage.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Newly out of school, Stanton was at first less interested in Smith’s ideas than she was attracted to the excitement and glamour of his circle.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Veasey said honoring a figure associated with resistance to school desegregation conflicts with the inclusive ideals baseball has long promoted.—
Joseph Morton,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Natives, immigrants, and people freed from slavery forged this country out of ideals women and men had only previously dreamt of.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Kathleen Hanna fronted punk greats Bikini Kill and Le Tigre, two bands that existed at different times in the evolving (but still sexist) conversation about women and their place in culture, with the musicians often serving as paragons of feminist critique and anguish.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Feb. 2026
-
For instance, there is no reason to fear that Canadian, German, or Japanese nuclear weapons would end up in the hands of rogue states or terrorist organizations; all three are paragons of responsibility, state capacity, and domestic stability.—
Moritz S. Graefrath,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The collection is built around a fascination of the forest, its mystery, beauty, and the sublime forces of nature, its perfections and imperfections.—
Felicity Carter,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The vocal and physical manifestations of the characters must become second nature.—
Sarah Sotoodeh , Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
8 Mar. 2026
-
An equally strong argument could be made that the dementia was the real cause because his actions are manifestations of his condition.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exemplars.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exemplars. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
