archetypes

plural of archetype
1
as in forerunners
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 originals
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

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 archetypes While other archetypes focus on high-level strategy or major financial decisions, Operational CFOs work systematically through business processes. Jack McCullough, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 Other wardrobe archetypes will be included in the collection, too, such as a bomber jacket crafted from dark denim or black leather and a leather trenchcoat. Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 29 Aug. 2025 These archetypes prioritize risk tolerance, strategic planning, and transparency, according to OneStream. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025 Loïs Boisson and Victoria Mboko’s rises have all the hallmarks of a tennis fairytale, the sudden thrust into stardom that constitutes the Cinderella story, one of the most enduring archetypes in sports. Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025 Both display varying forms of feminine archetypes. Essence, 21 Aug. 2025 And each approached the figure of the gun-toting, knife-wielding badass from her own point of view, creating archetypes that are still in use today. Katie Rife, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2025 Still, Lee’s archetypes are far more enjoyable to listen to talk than those of most other directors. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2025 Ancient mythical archetypes are gaining new relevance in this strange convergence, while more unsettling questions emerge. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetypes
Noun
  • That’s with a supply of originals like Apple’s F1 and New Line’s Zack Cregger title Weapons, the reboot of DC Studios’ Superman, and a horror sequel a generation was craving in Final Destination Bloodlines, the highest-grossing title in the franchise ($138M domestic/$301M worldwide).
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Netflix has made a name for itself with its buzzy originals.
    Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Andrea spends his free time here when not traveling the world performing, while his younger brother Alberto and his family quietly tend to the 300 acres of grain fields, vines, and olive trees, safeguarding the land their ancestors once farmed as sharecroppers.
    Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • But the staff at the Indian Community School were nurturing and respectful while the students learned about their ancestors' heritage.
    Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Working together, the plant teams agreed to accept shorter lead times for receiving prototypes in return for designs with fewer problems.
    Nelson P. Repenning, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
  • French rocket builder and ArianeGroup subsidiary MaiaSpace announced the completion of a monthslong test campaign that subjected several subscale prototypes of its propellant tanks to high-pressure burst tests, European Spaceflight reports.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Events once considered rare—like the 2003 Northeast blackout that hit 50 million people—are now seen as precursors of larger disruptions.
    Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Tarnopolsky recommends against the precursors since much more evidence supports the finished product.
    Matt Fuchs, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • And more than 60 million Americans rely on drinking water from rivers and aquifers whose sources are within national forests.
    Ryan Gellert, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The #Eagles’ trade for Tank Bigsby is in part due to a need for another kick returner, sources say.
    Matt Wadleigh, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • There are further examples within Paqueta’s case, but the principle relates to a wider point on the use of data in football.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • About 115,000 examples of the TR7 were built worldwide over the model’s lifespan, of which nearly 29,000 were convertibles.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Archetypes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetypes. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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