1
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
2
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of archetype
In this archetype, the leader is a stoic force—strong, steady, and impenetrable.
—
Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Enneagram Test Before meeting, clients are encouraged to complete two versions of the personality evaluation that identifies nine archetypes based on motivations, desires and fears.
—Ingrid Schmidt, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025
Other actresses were brought in to replicate the archetype of Somers' ditzy character Chrissy Snow, but the show never fully recovered.
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 17 Mar. 2025
An archetype, Marty told me, was like a clearing in the woods.
—Eboo Patel, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for archetype
Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Enneagram Test Before meeting, clients are encouraged to complete two versions of the personality evaluation that identifies nine archetypes based on motivations, desires and fears.
—Ingrid Schmidt, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025
Other actresses were brought in to replicate the archetype of Somers' ditzy character Chrissy Snow, but the show never fully recovered.
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 17 Mar. 2025
An archetype, Marty told me, was like a clearing in the woods.
—Eboo Patel, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for archetype
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetype
Noun
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Yet this brand of Christian Zionism is clearly the forerunner to today’s – and holds sway in Washington.—
Shalom Goldman,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2025
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The title is an apt, if sort of obvious, introduction to Turner, who has been hailed as the forerunner to modern art.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Kevin Williamson, the writer who created the franchise with the 1996 original, is directing the sequel. Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown, the other half of the reboots' Core Four along with Ortega and Barrera, will reprise their roles.—
Benjamin VanHoose,
People.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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Thornton pointed to the authenticity of Landman to account for the Paramount+ original’s popularity as the number one streaming show in January of this year.—
Fred Topel,
Deadline,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Until recently, the ancestors of insects were thought to be more millipede-like and evolved once invertebrates began to live on land.—
Riley Black,
Smithsonian Magazine,
9 Apr. 2025
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During the Pleistocene, our ancestors lived through several different ice ages.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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After earmarking 610 billion won ($414 million) to build a battery plant near its Busan headquarters, the company unveiled its battery prototype in March 2024, touting it as more powerful than Tesla’s.—
Gloria Haraito,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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The prototype Bat flipped the traditional coaster concept on its head — with the trains swinging from side to side while hanging below the track.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In addition, neighborhoods would no longer be required — as a precursor to meters — to test out two-hour and three-hour parking zones enforced by chalking tires instead of meters.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Apr. 2025
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Directed by Arthur Penn, who brought a bold visual style, frank sexuality and graphic, balletic violence to a Hollywood dominated by optimistic pictures, this countercultural romance served as a precursor to the generational tension and mistrust in authority that was quietly pervading the country.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Constructed from Alexander Graham Bell’s simple tetrahedron cell, the Cygnet model consists of two equilateral paper triangles, connected and illuminated by a hidden light source.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
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Legendary is eyeing a 2026 production start, another source adds.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Archetype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetype. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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