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type

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word type distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of type are character, description, kind, nature, and sort. While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

When can character be used instead of type?

While the synonyms character and type are close in meaning, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

When is it sensible to use description instead of type?

The words description and type can be used in similar contexts, but description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

When might kind be a better fit than type?

The synonyms kind and type are sometimes interchangeable, but kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

When could nature be used to replace type?

Although the words nature and type have much in common, nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

When is sort a more appropriate choice than type?

While in some cases nearly identical to type, sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

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 type
Verb
The book is filled with lewd pictures, with many faces blacked out, and messages both handwritten and typed from well-wishers for Epstein’s 50th birthday, USA TODAY reported. George Petras, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025 Recent research using brain imaging has revealed that handwriting activates a broader network of the brain—including areas associated with memory, motor control, and language—than typing does. Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 To search the restaurant inspections, type in a restaurant name. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2025 Back in the days of typewriters and papers that could easily get lost in the shuffle, journalists typed -30- at the end of their pieces. Joanna Allhands, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for type
Recent Examples of Synonyms for type
Noun
  • New rides like this one can cost $100 million, if not more, to create; incorporate LiDAR laser systems of the kind used on self-driving cars; and rely on robotic figures with thousands of moving parts.
    Bianca Bosker, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2025
  • That's consistency — but not the good kind.
    Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • That's the beauty — and the challenge — of the category.
    Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Two neighbors are likely experiencing much wider differences in inflation than the differences when looking at categories like age or race.
    Susan Tompor, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Forbes classifies Ellison–who bought nearly all of the Hawaiian island Lanai for $300 million in 2012–as a California resident based on his voter registration.
    Ella Malmgren, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Arguing that relocation can stem the loss of biodiversity, the government has classified some islands used by Nicobarese tribals as wildlife sanctuaries.
    M. Rajshekhar, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The top three countries on the list suggest that hospital systems of all sorts have the capacity to implement new technologies that improve patient outcomes.
    Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Husseini’s successor of sorts, his distant cousin Yasser Arafat, also resorted to murder and intimidation.
    Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Charlie Kirk Show, which recorded over 750 episodes and has been ranked in the top 10 of Apple podcasts, is known for conservative takes on politics.
    Richard Hall, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Kirk, a prominent voice in culture wars on college campuses, hosts a daily radio show and podcast, The Charlie Kirk Show, which ranks among the top 10 on Apple News’ list of top podcasts and has a strong Gen Z fan base.
    Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This weekend continued a trend of movies that court audiences of all ages and various genres, although horror has been a highlight leading into the fall season.
    Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Among them were countless era-defining releases that are still among the best movies ever made—of any genre—from the haunting Rebecca to the gripping Rear Window, and the ravishing Vertigo to the hair-raising Psycho.
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Other extinct branches of the tree of life included Hawaiian honeyeater birds of the family Mohoidae and the Dinornithormes order which grouped giant flightless birds such as New Zealand’s moas.
    Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Connections is all about grouping words.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Raw fabrics, wool/cotton blends and stripe weaves, as well as green and red casts are among the mill’s latest areas of focus.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Absolutely spectacular stuff, for sci-fi fans and those looking for thrills of any stripe.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Type.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/type. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

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