exemplary
adjective
ex·em·pla·ry
ig-ˈzem-plə-rē 
1
a
: deserving imitation : commendable
his courage was exemplary
also
: deserving imitation because of excellence
they serve exemplary pastries —
G. V. Higgins
G. V. Higgins
b
: serving as a pattern
2
: serving as an example, instance, or illustration
this story is exemplary of her style
3
: serving as a warning : monitory
given an exemplary punishment
Synonyms
Examples of exemplary in a Sentence
Each cantina has its own style, but almost all of them share several key traits: uniformed waiters offering exemplary service, a trio of musicians strolling from table to table playing songs on request, lots of men playing dominoes, plenty of good tequila and cold beer, and tasty home-cooked botanas (snacks) served free with each round of drinks.
—Chris Humphrey, National Geographic Traveler, September 2008
A few Hollywood couples stayed hitched—Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, 50 years and counting—but such exemplary marriages had less entertainment value than the connubial career of, say, Elizabeth Taylor, eight times wed and divorced, including two volatile turns with Richard Burton.
—Richard Corliss, Time, 28 Jan. 2008
Among the most important factors that distinguished the best Civil War regiments from the mediocre ones were the quality and exemplary courage of their officers.
—James M. McPherson, New York Review of Books, 6 Oct. 2005
as a hospital volunteer you have given exemplary service to your community
armies have traditionally used public execution as an exemplary punishment for the crime of desertion
Chris Humphrey, National Geographic Traveler, September 2008
A few Hollywood couples stayed hitched—Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, 50 years and counting—but such exemplary marriages had less entertainment value than the connubial career of, say, Elizabeth Taylor, eight times wed and divorced, including two volatile turns with Richard Burton.
—Richard Corliss, Time, 28 Jan. 2008
Among the most important factors that distinguished the best Civil War regiments from the mediocre ones were the quality and exemplary courage of their officers.
—James M. McPherson, New York Review of Books, 6 Oct. 2005
as a hospital volunteer you have given exemplary service to your community
armies have traditionally used public execution as an exemplary punishment for the crime of desertion
Recent Examples on the Web
From Target-Centric Leader To Visionary Storyteller Leaders who are elevated to the C-suite often have a record of exemplary performance, as measured by targets or metrics achieved.
—S. Venkatesh, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Freeman’s joy and pain, along with LeBron’s savviness and protectiveness of his own children, are exemplary.
—Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Oct. 2024
Still, somewhere about an hour away from Monterey, where the 101 freeway is straight and visibility is exemplary, a Lamborghini Aventador SV and Porsche 911 GT3RS buzzed by.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2024
November 1: Souls of beings who had an exemplary life, as well as those of children who were baptized.
—Paula Soria, The Arizona Republic, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for exemplary 
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S. Venkatesh, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Freeman’s joy and pain, along with LeBron’s savviness and protectiveness of his own children, are exemplary.
—Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Oct. 2024
Still, somewhere about an hour away from Monterey, where the 101 freeway is straight and visibility is exemplary, a Lamborghini Aventador SV and Porsche 911 GT3RS buzzed by.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2024
November 1: Souls of beings who had an exemplary life, as well as those of children who were baptized.
—Paula Soria, The Arizona Republic, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for exemplary
Dictionary Entries Near exemplary
Cite this Entry
“Exemplary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exemplary. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exemplary
adjective
ex·em·pla·ry
ig-ˈzem-plə-rē
: deserving to be imitated : commendable
exemplary behavior
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