as in classic
constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated
a paradigmatic essay in which the writer presents his point of view clearly and engagingly
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Recent Examples of paradigmatic
Will speaking characters into action be a novelty or a mainstay — a paradigmatic way of interacting with screens or just a passing diversion that will turn this deal cringe in short order?
—
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 12 Dec. 2025
The paradigmatic helicopter parent hovered from a distance and in most cases didn’t follow their child to college.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
The 1994 slaughter of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda became the paradigmatic example, prosecuted at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and recognized by the UN Security Council.
—Faisal Kutty, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Though beloved by many straight men for the wrong reasons, the central character in American Psycho — a movie directed by a woman, written by a woman, and based on a novel written by a gay man — has always been paradigmatic of repressed same-sex desire.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 23 Sep. 2025
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 12 Dec. 2025
The paradigmatic helicopter parent hovered from a distance and in most cases didn’t follow their child to college.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
The 1994 slaughter of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda became the paradigmatic example, prosecuted at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and recognized by the UN Security Council.
—Faisal Kutty, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Though beloved by many straight men for the wrong reasons, the central character in American Psycho — a movie directed by a woman, written by a woman, and based on a novel written by a gay man — has always been paradigmatic of repressed same-sex desire.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paradigmatic
Adjective
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Susan Lucci added a classic Christian Louboutin silhouette to a winter sidewalk look in New York City on Tuesday, wearing the brand’s Iriza 100mm pumps in patent beige with a full-length plush pink coat.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
3 Feb. 2026
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Coffee, culture and classic movie romance Start your day at Intelligentsia Coffee in downtown Austin near the Central Library, where an avena latte warms your hands and a flaky pastry warms your heart.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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This category is a log jam for the widely influential acoustic and electric R&B approach of Dijon Duenas, who’s here for his work on Justin Bieber’s immense Swag and for his exemplary solo album Baby.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
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These eight spots offer exemplary versions, found at seafood counters in the city, and on oyster farms and in fish shacks up and down the coast.—
Becky Duffett,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Agnifilo previously worked under archetypal celebrity defense lawyer Ben Brafman, whose clients have included accused Mafia bosses and Michael Jackson, and represented Shkreli and Dominique Strauss-Kahn alongside Brafman before starting his own firm.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
27 Jan. 2026
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But her motivation, actions, and payoff are fundamentally different from those of her archetypical brothers and sisters.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The live oaks, heavy with Spanish moss and surrounded by palm trees, evoke a quintessential Southern vibe.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Jan. 2026
-
This quintessential New Orleans cocktail, the Sazerac, has a beautiful spice character from the rye whiskey, compared to an Old Fashioned that would use the sweeter bourbon.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But vasectomies can be expensive, and though typically reversible, too definitive a commitment for younger men.—
Annalisa Merelli,
STAT,
2 Feb. 2026
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The doo-wop legend Dion recorded the definitive version, but it was covered by artists from Marvin Gaye to Whitney Houston.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The German is an excellent all-round forward who excels in bringing the best out of the teammates around him.—
Graham Ruthven,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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While not every product in the brand’s SOS collection includes hypochlorous acid (an excellent anti-acneic ingredient), the serum does.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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And his two Super Bowls were against the New England Patriots, taking down Belichick and Tom Brady to spoil their perfect 2007 season and the 2011 campaign.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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With enticing descriptions and exquisite photography, the book is perfect for travelers to leaf through for destination inspiration.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Normalize mental health conversations and model healthy leadership by taking time off, setting boundaries and seeking help when needed.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
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Organizations need multi-model portfolios – some proprietary, some licensed, all integrated into architectures that evolve as quickly as their markets.—
Mohamad Ali,
Fortune,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paradigmatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paradigmatic. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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