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type

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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

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 type
Verb
The list, typed out in his notes app, contained an impressive amount of detail about her life, ranging from major relationship milestones to highly specific food orders at Chipotle. Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 Other times, Ron is a terminally online Larry, typing screeds into customer support forms and cursing out chatbots. Judy Berman, Time, 9 Oct. 2025 To search the restaurant inspections, type in a keyword or restaurant name. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2025 Now, Max plays in a rock band, Spec Labs, made up entirely of people on the spectrum, previously worked at Starbucks and is currently opening up new avenues of communication via a protocol called Spellers, which teaches spelling and typing to nonspeaking or minimally speaking individuals. Sabienna Bowman, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for type
Recent Examples of Synonyms for type
Noun
  • But in the eastern areas close to the front, movement of any kind is dangerous, and electricity and phone service are often disrupted.
    Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 19 Oct. 2025
  • The boutique will include handmade must haves, one-of-a-kind treasures and great gift ideas, as well as quilts for all ages, holiday items, children’s toys, lovely home décor, planters and unique household goods to name a few.
    Dawn Giangiulio, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • At that time, voters approved extending a capital-improvement property tax at the current rate to fund six categories of projects, including a new Little Rock District Court facility.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Rare earths are a category of minerals that are critical for a swath of products from cars to semiconductors.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Related Stories In a nutsell, the test arranged by the cutter’s union documented that AI tools are great for organizing, classifying and summarizing.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Police and the media classified Gacy’s victims as male prostitutes and homosexuals, using that as an excuse to marginalize and blame them.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Penguins looked utterly out of sorts in the first period and didn’t look the least bit equipped to come back from the early deficit.
    Josh Yohe, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
  • These days, entrepreneurial sorts are likely to flee entertainment for the booming pastures of AI.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Leeds United find themselves in the opposite camp, ranking bottom in big-chance conversion rate after converting just three of 17 such opportunities.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • The personal finance website recently ranked the best baseball cities in America in 2025, based on team performance, ticket prices and other factors.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But most are from 1900 to the late 1960s in all genres.
    Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 20 Oct. 2025
  • It's been a consistently reliable genre in the decades since, pairing mental anguish and unreliable perspectives with nightmarish imagery and terrors that lie just beyond our perceptions.
    Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Most of all, though, the receivers are often simply around each other, which is not always common for a position grouping in the NFL.
    Jesse Newell, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
  • By grouping her students according to their sign and ruling element, Prouse found a clever way to create a classroom that felt both welcoming and balanced, setting the tone for connection and community.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The bold stripes give them a fun, old-school touch, while the sleek shape keeps them modern enough to wear with anything.
    Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Curious about how Coco Rocha and Claudia Schiffer earned their stripes?
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Type.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/type. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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