1
as in original
something from which copies are made
Beowulf is considered by some scholars to be the archetype for medieval British heroic tales
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in forerunner
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
the abacus is sometimes cited as the archetype of the modern digital calculator
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of archetype
But maybe the archetype of a mother is really present within this film, despite the absence of meeting our actual mothers.
—
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
These archetypes have existed since the beginning of time.
—Lucy Handley, Big Think, 20 Mar. 2026
For many of us, that word conjures a specific archetype—someone with a good career, a six-figure salary, and a LinkedIn profile that reads like a highlight reel of promotions.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 19 Mar. 2026
Rather than going with a classic black penguin suit, Kelly and his team, which consists of stylist Warren Alfie Baker and his groomer Jessica Ortiz, put a fun twist on the archetype by sporting a chestnut brown dinner jacket.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for archetype
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
These archetypes have existed since the beginning of time.
—Lucy Handley, Big Think, 20 Mar. 2026
For many of us, that word conjures a specific archetype—someone with a good career, a six-figure salary, and a LinkedIn profile that reads like a highlight reel of promotions.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 19 Mar. 2026
Rather than going with a classic black penguin suit, Kelly and his team, which consists of stylist Warren Alfie Baker and his groomer Jessica Ortiz, put a fun twist on the archetype by sporting a chestnut brown dinner jacket.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for archetype
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetype
Noun
-
The potatoes nail the candy coating crackle of the original, while sweetened mayo is swapped with an aioli made of saffron, condensed milk and citrus.—
Cesar Hernandez,
San Francisco Chronicle,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Smart Speaker Deals Amazon's Alexa voice assistant comes in a wide variety of form factors, but the original is the Echo speaker, which has transformed from a tall cylinder to a tiny little globe.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The camp is a program of the Woodcraft Rangers, founded by author and naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton, whose pioneering Woodcraft Rangers program was a forerunner to groups such as the Boy Scouts.—
Jessie Dax-Setkus,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The Norwegian ended his season before the Olympics to further recover from a shoulder injury, but attended the finals as one of the forerunners, who test a course shortly before a race starts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
While major automakers have tested the technology for years, most efforts have remained at the prototype stage.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Apr. 2026
-
What to Know Smart glasses are no longer niche prototypes—the devices have become a multibillion-dollar industry, with models typically priced between $270 and more than $1,000 depending on features and brand.—
Thomas Westerholm,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Norman Wong, a descendant of Wong Kim Ark, poses for a portrait in front of a mural of his late ancestor, in San Francisco.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The Northern Cheyenne chief Little Wolf exemplified this resolve in the 1860s and ’70s, leading his people in many different battles to defend the North Country of his ancestors.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Polls suggest that most people want owners to pay for their own stadiums, but sports teams are desired and beloved, a source not only of entertainment but also of civic pride.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Online personalities a source of division Though widely regarded at the conference as separate from Republicans, the conservative movement is predominantly united, Plano resident Bruce Dunn said.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Such engravings, which depict the wackily maximalist style à la mode, including oodles of feathers and furbelows, were, in essence, early precursors to modern fashion magazines.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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Tantric yoga is obviously meant to be the precursor to intimate relations.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Archetype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetype. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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