1
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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2
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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of archetype
But, if the show’s canvas has grown broader, the characters themselves have been reduced to mere archetypes.
—
Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2025
This archetype also requires restraint—over-inquiry can overwhelm or frustrate others.
—Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2025
Using this lens, John D. Rockefeller, often regarded as the archetype of entrepreneurial success, amassed a fortune equivalent to 1.5% of U.S. GDP at his peak—an extraordinary figure in any era.
—Joel Shulman, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
Leaders who embody the Connector archetype understand that relationships, not transactions, drive long-term success.
—Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for archetype 
Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2025
This archetype also requires restraint—over-inquiry can overwhelm or frustrate others.
—Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2025
Using this lens, John D. Rockefeller, often regarded as the archetype of entrepreneurial success, amassed a fortune equivalent to 1.5% of U.S. GDP at his peak—an extraordinary figure in any era.
—Joel Shulman, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
Leaders who embody the Connector archetype understand that relationships, not transactions, drive long-term success.
—Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for archetype
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetype
Noun
-
Punk and Emo, the forerunners of today’s worm-mollusks, lived on the dark seafloor amid gardens of sponges, nearly 200 million years before the first dinosaurs emerged on land.—
Kate Golembiewski,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2025
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The company's North American forerunner, Chrysler, has been left for dead repeatedly over the decades, only to emerge with hit products like minivans in the 1980s and the Dodge Ram pickup in the 1990s.—
Joel Mathis,
theweek,
17 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Den of Thieves 2: Pantera instead turns out to be an ideal action vehicle for the always watchable and rugged Butler, and a worthy enough sequel to an original that wasn’t all that original to begin with.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
10 Jan. 2025
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The Irish singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist presents the originals beneath a veil of ambience and reverb, embedding a nostalgic in the fabric of her homespun renditions.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Franklin’s immediate ancestors grew up in a world where the fear of witchcraft led to tragic consequences.—
Michael Sheldrick,
Forbes,
18 Jan. 2025
-
An Africa that would leave our ancestors speechless, unable to comprehend the magnitude of our joy and freedom.—
Laurel Dalrymple,
NPR,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Darryn Peterson: Modern guard prototype The standout player from Prolific Prep is the 6-foot-5 combo guard who ran the show for the most complete team this weekend.—
Jared Weiss,
The Athletic,
21 Jan. 2025
-
In April 2023, one of SpaceX’s prototype Starship rockets exploded over the Gulf of Mexico shortly after liftoff.—
Robert A. Kopack,
The Conversation,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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However, like the Mellotron, it can be considered a precursor to the synthesizer.—
Angelica Frey,
JSTOR Daily,
15 Jan. 2025
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The petition — which itself isn’t a lawsuit but a precursor — was withdrawn this week.—
Mia Sato,
The Verge,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The city relies extensively on the approval of state loans and other sources of funding that are under the governor’s purview.—
Alexandra Berzon,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2025
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Italy’s famed Sforza Castle is a focal point for historians, architects, and art lovers—as well as a source of many legends.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
16 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Archetype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetype. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
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