as in classic
constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated
a paradigmatic essay in which the writer presents his point of view clearly and engagingly
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Recent Examples of paradigmatic
Will speaking characters into action be a novelty or a mainstay — a paradigmatic way of interacting with screens or just a passing diversion that will turn this deal cringe in short order?
—
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 12 Dec. 2025
The paradigmatic helicopter parent hovered from a distance and in most cases didn’t follow their child to college.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
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
Though beloved by many straight men for the wrong reasons, the central character in American Psycho — a movie directed by a woman, written by a woman, and based on a novel written by a gay man — has always been paradigmatic of repressed same-sex desire.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 23 Sep. 2025
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 12 Dec. 2025
The paradigmatic helicopter parent hovered from a distance and in most cases didn’t follow their child to college.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
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
Though beloved by many straight men for the wrong reasons, the central character in American Psycho — a movie directed by a woman, written by a woman, and based on a novel written by a gay man — has always been paradigmatic of repressed same-sex desire.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paradigmatic
Adjective
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The move reflects a shifting tennis sponsorship landscape, with classic brands long associated with the professional tour, like Fila, Sergio Tacchini, and Ellesse, being replaced by younger activewear brands like FP Movement, Lululemon, and Vuori.—
Jessica Schiffer,
Vogue,
14 Jan. 2026
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All three have been spotted sporting a pair of Adidas sneakers, and so many popular styles are on sale for up to 50 percent off — including the classic Sambas that are rarely marked down.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Podziemski agreed that Kuminga’s attitude has been exemplary through trying times.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
13 Jan. 2026
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For other exemplary sips, drive up and around the other side of Etna to visit Vino di Anna, Tenuta delle Terre Nere Winery, SRC, and Frank Cornelissen.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This water sign embodies the archetypal mother; the protective space, the nurturing force, and these qualities are precisely what dominates now.—
Danijela Pilic,
Glamour,
3 Jan. 2026
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Director Nadia Hallgren had immense access to Obama, following her across a 34-city book tour and turning the introspective writing into a dynamic reflection of the author as the archetypal modern woman.—
Chris Snellgrove,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The best beanies for women are quintessential cold-weather hats that strike a delicate balance between staying warm and looking polished, even when the weather is anything but fashion-friendly.—
Alison Syrett Cleary,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
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The quintessential style merges the charm of a vintage silhouette with a more mature, modern appeal.—
Nina Derwin,
Glamour,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The testing process is built for speed and discretion, delivering a definitive answer in approximately two minutes.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Jan. 2026
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Without any definitive answers just yet, there's been lots of speculation in the local press, including questions about whether the couple were murdered or died by suicide.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But the Red Sox destroyed and ended their relationship with their only true power hitter and proven winner for a player who, though an undeniably excellent addition, was here for 117 total games.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
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Transition metal fluorides are widely regarded as promising cathode materials because of their high theoretical voltages and excellent thermal stability.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Bathrooms, water fountains and green grass perfect for picnics or playing sports — those are the exact features that are completely missing from some San Joaquin County parks.—
Carmela Karcher,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
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This spot is perfect for relaxing and reflecting on the serenity all around.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Yang’s mock competition with the actor Simu Liu, best known for being the first Asian star of a Marvel movie, poked fun at how goofy these milestones could sound, while also ribbing the expectations set by the model-minority stereotype.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
21 Dec. 2025
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Those newer models will make up an increasing share of sales going into next year as the remaining 2025 model-year vehicles are cleared out.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
3 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paradigmatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paradigmatic. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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