type 1 of 2

type

2 of 2

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

Examples 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
Writing by hand beats typing for learning and memory Yes, typing is usually much faster than writing by hand. Andrea Muraskin, NPR, 31 Dec. 2024 Because kids know how to use tablets and touch screen but typing and other fine motor skills. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024 There is no longer a need to create phrases that are easy to type on a mobile T9 keyboard, instead, Gen Z slang seems to be shaped by meme cycles that evolve at the speed of light and a love of the group chat over online message boards. Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024 To combat this, accountants should advocate for multifactor authentication that includes behavioral biometrics such as typing patterns or mouse movements, which are far more challenging for deepfake technology to emulate accurately. Pankaj Vasani, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for type 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for type
Noun
  • On Thursday, January 2, Wolfgang Puck's Bar & Grill at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas found itself in hot water — and not the kind meant for cooking.
    Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Matchmaker Maria kind enough to join us now with some tips for our viewers.
    ABC NEWS, ABC News, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Across the board, those schools have the most NIL money, with the SEC No. 1 in that category.
    The Athletic College Basketball Staff, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
  • In an effort to simplify its product naming — an exercise that HP also recently went through — Dell is moving away from sub-brands like XPS, Inspiron and others to a simple Dell, Dell Pro and Dell Pro Max lineup with two additional performance tiers (Plus and Premium) within each category.
    Bob O’Donnell, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Not a nor'easter Monday's snowstorm will not be classified as a classic nor'easter, Taylor said, which are some of the most infamous winter storms for East Coasters.
    Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2025
  • And our findings have broader implications for how species are classified and protected under conservation laws.
    Andre A. Naranjo, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • For a league that lacks star power, signing Rodriguez is a coup of sorts.
    Felipe Cardenas, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
  • On Monday night, the Rams defense had another coming out party of sorts.
    Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Keys ranks second in that count, with 24 top 10s, while Gerald Levert and R. Kelly share the third-place mark, at 22 each.
    Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 14 Jan. 2025
  • McCutchen ranks in the franchise’s career top 10 in several categories, including home runs (fourth, 235) and RBIs (seventh, 818).
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The director Michael Gracey adheres to the biopic genre’s basic contours.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Choosing to create salsa and plena tracks alone is part of an enduring tradition of protest in the genre, according to experts.
    Solcyré Burga, TIME, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • While all of the development’s dwellings are single-family residences, they are grouped into pods of six, each sharing a courtyard and driveway.
    Caitlin Montoya, Charlotte Observer, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Carlson is sometimes grouped with artists affiliated with Indigenous Futurisms, a term the Anishinaabe scholar Grace Dillon coined in 2003 to denote artists whose work offers a Native perspective on the future.
    Jeremy Lybarger, ARTnews.com, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Seen from above, thin yellow stripes crisscross its head and back like a network, a similar pattern as giraffes or pythons.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
  • European political leaders of such varied ideological stripes as the Social Democratic defense minister of Germany, Boris Pistorius, and the Conservative candidate for the country’s chancellorship, Friedrich Merz, agree that defense spending needs to increase significantly.
    Arancha González Laya, Foreign Affairs, 6 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near type

Cite this Entry

“Type.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/type. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on type

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!