model 1 of 3

Definition of modelnext

model

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adjective

model

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun model differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of model are example, exemplar, ideal, and pattern. While all these words mean "someone or something set before one for guidance or imitation," model applies to something taken or proposed as worthy of imitation.

a decor that is a model of good taste

When could example be used to replace model?

The meanings of example and model largely overlap; however, example applies to a person to be imitated or in some contexts on no account to be imitated but to be regarded as a warning.

children tend to follow the example of their parents

Where would exemplar be a reasonable alternative to model?

The synonyms exemplar and model are sometimes interchangeable, but exemplar suggests either a faultless example to be emulated or a perfect typification.

cited Joan of Arc as the exemplar of courage

When might ideal be a better fit than model?

The words ideal and model are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ideal implies the best possible exemplification either in reality or in conception.

never found a job that matched his ideal

In what contexts can pattern take the place of model?

Although the words pattern and model have much in common, pattern suggests a clear and detailed archetype or prototype.

American industry set a pattern for others to follow

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 model
Noun
Their historical trend of off-road vehicles, such as the Wrangler and Gladiator, are pricey, driving consumers to other brands or other Jeep models and keeping the Grand Cherokee top of mind for consumers. Marc D Grasso, Hartford Courant, 10 Jan. 2026 When activated, the feature prevents the driver from shifting out of park for 20 seconds or until their seat belt is buckled; on many models, that applies to a front seat passenger as well, whose belt must also be buckled before the driver can shift out of park. Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The upcoming show will magnify the dressed body — and that means all types of bodies, not just model-worthy ones — by juxtaposing objects from the museum’s collection with a sampling of historical and contemporary garments from the Costume Institute’s 33,000 items. Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 17 Nov. 2025 Legion’s strategy is to stay model-agnostic and focus on secure, interoperable agentic workflows that span multiple systems. Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
Mills said the company plans to model the dealership after its other locations in Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Spokane. Angela Palermo january 7, Idaho Statesman, 7 Jan. 2026 But by practicing moderation, parents can model smart technology habits for their kids. Andee Tagle, NPR, 7 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for model
Recent Examples of Synonyms for model
Noun
  • Stock show judge Kyndal Reitzenstein emphasizes the differences between judging breeding cattle for reproduction and market animals for food.
    Sara Hansen, Denver Post, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Their findings, detailed in a study published this month in Nature Communications, add new weight to evolutionary biology theories about the trade-off between aging and reproduction.
    K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Every memory holding the sum of us—not me alone, but a nesting doll of memories, proof that someone in the world once mothered us, even if that mothering had to come from only ourselves.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
  • And referring to yourself as my doll.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • That requires policymakers to distinguish between ideas that sound compassionate and policies that work.
    J.D. Hayworth, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Felipe Munoz, an industry expert who runs the industry research platform Car Industry Analysis, likes the small car idea.
    Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Nights out in Florence called for a more sophisticated look than what’s common in American cities, making a classic black blazer the best option for looking put-together and fashionable.
    Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
  • How To Play Strands The New York Times’ Strands puzzle is a play on the classic word search.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The institutions studied by political scientists do not exist outside ideology but are simply patterned instances of ideology—and if ideology changes drastically enough, the institutions change with it.
    Jason Blakely, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
  • The Committee of 56 took its numbering and inspiration from the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence and patterned the prose after Thomas Jefferson’s rhetoric in the original.
    Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 24 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • The Circus Museum features the world’s largest collection of miniatures—more than 42,000 pieces that give guests a peek into the history and early days of The Ringling circus.
    Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026
  • By the time the couple adopted her from a dog rescue in Louisburg, Kansas, 3-year-old Gracie had birthed two litters of pups — part miniature poodle, part miniature Australian Shepherd.
    Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 17 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The innovative manufacturing process entails the knit layer of the garment being bonded to the high-performance HDry waterproof and breathable membrane via a 3D technique whereby the finished garments is placed on an inflatable mannequin with the membrane beneath it.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 16 Jan. 2026
  • The singers play mannequins stationed in neighboring storefront windows.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 15 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • In healthcare, for example, AI scribing (including Nabla’s), clinician support (such as OpenEvidence) and discovering patterns in imaging, such as X-rays, are good uses for existing LLM technology, LeBrun said.
    Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Climate change and biodiversity loss, which both heighten the risk of extinction, are two such examples.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Model.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/model. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.

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