as in examples
someone who another person admires and tries to be like
Parents need to be good role models for their children. Athletes should remember that they are role models.
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Recent Examples of role models
Local fire companies and police departments are planning a small parade to welcome the team home, celebrating not only their national championship but also their role as leaders and role models in the community.
—
Wakisha Bailey, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Some problems are societal — lack of money or positive role models, the easy access to drugs — while others are endemic to the women’s age, at which insecurity and immaturity can be crippling.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Kids ‘n Kinship provides friendships and positive role models to children and youth ages 5-16 who are in need of an additional supportive relationship with an adult.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 16 Jan. 2026
Many mass shooters have shown a fascination with or been fixated on other mass shooters and their lives out of a need to feel understood, to have role models and to be part of a community, according to experts in the psychology of school shooters.
—Michelle Krupa, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
These antiheroes might not make great role models, but their stories sure make for excellent entertainment.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
Democrats are currently so desperate for strong male role models to promote as candidates that they’re all tangled up over whether a burly Maine oysterman’s Nazi-symbol tattoo is defensible.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2025
There are so few role models and authentic stories to look to, and this project has the potential to change that.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
Beyond programs, the clubs connect children with trusted adults and older children who can serve as role models and sounding boards.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
Wakisha Bailey, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Some problems are societal — lack of money or positive role models, the easy access to drugs — while others are endemic to the women’s age, at which insecurity and immaturity can be crippling.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Kids ‘n Kinship provides friendships and positive role models to children and youth ages 5-16 who are in need of an additional supportive relationship with an adult.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 16 Jan. 2026
Many mass shooters have shown a fascination with or been fixated on other mass shooters and their lives out of a need to feel understood, to have role models and to be part of a community, according to experts in the psychology of school shooters.
—Michelle Krupa, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
These antiheroes might not make great role models, but their stories sure make for excellent entertainment.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
Democrats are currently so desperate for strong male role models to promote as candidates that they’re all tangled up over whether a burly Maine oysterman’s Nazi-symbol tattoo is defensible.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2025
There are so few role models and authentic stories to look to, and this project has the potential to change that.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
Beyond programs, the clubs connect children with trusted adults and older children who can serve as role models and sounding boards.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for role models
Noun
-
Yale, Columbia, Brown, the University of Southern California, Boston University, and the Univesity of Pennsylvania are examples of schools that also scaled back, rescinded, paused or stopped new admissions.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
There are plenty of examples like this in nature even within the plain old Standard Model.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Google says Nano Banana can help redesign a living room, turn charts into infographics, or generate visual ideas for creative projects.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Effective Surveying—knowing where to look for successful ideas—requires balancing convention with novelty.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Unitree’s humanoids are powered by its proprietary AI models and feature quick-swappable batteries, depth perception systems, and payload capacities suitable for inspection and manipulation tasks.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Unlike other models, the gel fibers offer a bounce-back effect that allows your pillows to keep their fluffy shape for an even longer lifespan.—
Megan Schaltegger,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These sorcerers combat monstrous manifestations of negative human emotion, known as Curses, using a parallel energy source called Cursed Energy.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
But this common medication is increasingly being used as a means to temper the physical manifestations of anxiety, like a racing heartbeat or rapid breath.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Role models.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/role%20models. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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