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
-
Lancôme’s newest Idôle flanker blends ripe peach with the brand’s signature rose for a brighter, more playful take on the original.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Bigger and better Located in the former Brimstone restaurant and a neighboring empty space, the new Play Sporting Lounge is more than three times as big as the original, with 12,000 square feet of dining and entertainment space.—
Connie Ogle
April 3,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Williams had managed traditional Tex-Mex restaurants that were the forerunner of today’s Mercado Juarez Cafes.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
-
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
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
-
Its companion Renpho Health app (available for Android and iOS) tracks 50 health metrics, but some (like calories consumed and burned) rely on your input or external sources.—
Andrew Gebhart,
PC Magazine,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Lynn, frustrated not to know the source, began searching for it on her phone, but nothing came up.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In March, state media reported that China arrested seven people in an operation targeting traffickers of fentanyl precursors, according to the Reuters news agency.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The mission is a precursor to future Artemis launches that will rehearse rendezvous and docking maneuvers with the program's lunar landers, and eventually land astronauts on the lunar surface.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Archetype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetype. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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