PROTOTYPE Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

prototype

noun

ˈprō-tə-ˌtīp

Definition of prototype

as in example

one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like a literary character who is regarded as the prototype of the fanatical and intolerant pursuer of justice

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in forerunner

something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed the Greek epic that is the prototype of the hero myth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in original

something from which copies are made the manufacturer exhaustively tested the prototype of the vehicle before approving production

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 prototype Product managers, designers and engineers can now spin up a working prototype in record time using code generators. — Tim Lee, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026 My prototype suffered from intermittent rolling resistance with the motor off. — Thomas Ricker, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026 Horvath says that there were many iterations of designs and prototypes developed to get ready for the exhibit. — Megan Fitzgerald, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 So far, six locations of the smaller prototype are open, including in San Antonio and Manhattan. — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prototype

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prototype

Noun

One example is basa, also known as swai, a freshwater catfish native to Southeast Asia.

— Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026
It will be limited to just 200 examples, half of which will be coupes, while the other half will be open-top spyders.

— Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of example

Noun

Dubbed the ‘American Turtle’ for its appearance, the submarine made three attempts to blow up British ships without success, but is considered the forerunner of modern submarines.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026
Margaret and Alice are the forerunners of Lucy and Ethel, and Shakespeare’s comedy, written expressly to entertain, gives us a sense of what an Elizabethan-era situation comedy might look like.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

Definition of forerunner

Noun

Richard’s singing and rapping weave between the relentless drums like a shuttle through a loom, accented by cool sax notes and vocal loops from the original, which was co-written by Richard’s father.

— Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
With such a wealth of premium British content still available to leverage, BBC originals will remain at the heart of our offering.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of original

Noun

An April report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracked nearly 17,000 Shigella samples, which causes Shigellosis, which and can bring on diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps, collected between 2011 and 2023.

— Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
But last year, in a covert, high-altitude operation, a small team of Sherpas successfully retrieved DNA samples from his corpse and gave him back his name.

— Helen Regan, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of sample

Noun

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days (also known as October Prime Day) is here, serving as a precursor to Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

— Cameron Faulkner, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026
Ng, who is Jo Henderson’s oncologist, noted that her previous research found that women who ate more ultraprocessed foods had a higher risk of colon polyps that can be precursors to cancer.

— Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of precursor

Noun

These features lend his work an air of cruelty, making people seem like specimens in the hands of a researcher bound by no scientific ethics or norms.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026
Ghana and Namibia refused to sign up over concerns about data and specimens, while Zimbabwe lost all US health aid last month.

— Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of specimen

Noun

The discovery led to a complete redesign of the project, shifting the hotel inland to preserve the sacred site and honor the ancestors who remain there.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
The small, troubled Trask family represents isolation, generational trauma and dysfunctional cycles in contrast to the large, loving and morally grounded Hamilton family, who are modeled after Steinbeck’s own maternal ancestors.

— Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of ancestor

Noun

In a rare instance, the fossil fuel industry is united with renewable energy, while some environmental groups are pitted against the green power sector.

— Jordan Blum, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
Thousands of people marched through central Brussels in a protest that was largely peaceful, although some scuffles broke out with police, who used tear gas and water cannons in some instances.

— Makini Brice, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of instance

Browse Nearby Words

protocols

prototype

prototypes

See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Prototype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prototype. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of prototype

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on prototype

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

abscond

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes