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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 low-profile scissor keys feel nice to type on, and there's a convenient shortcut row for functions like volume, screen brightness, emoji, and more. Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 28 Feb. 2025 According to the warrant affidavit, the text used to replace the original recipient and dollar amounts was allegedly typed. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2025 This is an article about potential lefties in the Giants bullpen, but know that every word was typed with some degree of confusion and incredulousness. Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025 Dia will allow users to type natural language commands into the search bar, like finding a document or webpage or creating a calendar event. Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for type
Recent Examples of Synonyms for type
Noun
  • Perhaps the largest of its kind was a retrospective analysis that appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2002.
    Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • These wooden stakes, used to impede attackers, are the first of their kind to be recovered from this period.
    Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Annual sales in these three categories represent about $50 billion in sales.
    Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Other categories include electronics and electrical machinery, at $94.5 billion, miscellaneous at $78.9 billion, and metals, at $52.5 billion.
    Vicki M. Young, Sourcing Journal, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Despite the depth and breadth of his transactions, Sweeney did not classify his work as a teardown.
    Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Using data from nearly 10,000 herbarium specimens, scientists at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History have brought attention to the conservation status of these plants, revealing that 87 species—almost half of the genus—are now classified as threatened with extinction.
    Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Firefly released a recap video showing the landing: NASA Moon Science On Board The lander is packed with NASA science and technology instruments, including a lunar vacuum cleaner of sorts.
    Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
  • For most people, whole-grain rice of some sort is healthier than white.5 However, while dietary fiber is typically considered good for your health, some people cannot tolerate it well.
    Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Are you considered middle class in California? California ranked among the five priciest states in the nation for middle-class living in 2025, according to a recent analysis by personal finance site SmartAsset.
    Kendrick Marshall, Sacramento Bee, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Woody Marks probably didn’t help or hurt his stock with a 4.54 in the 40, but his shuttle time of 4.24 seconds ranked second among running backs.
    Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Clinging to safe bets risks missing breakthroughs that redefine genres.
    Seth Yudof, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2025
  • One of the more glaring omissions was actor Tony Todd, the veteran character actor and genre legend who starred in the Candyman horror series and was a prolific voice artist, who died in November at 69.
    Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Ohio Wisconsin Missouri Persona maps from Cambridge Analytica documents See a detailed view of voters grouped by persona in each of the states targeted by Cambridge.
    Corey G. Johnson, ProPublica, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Geometry should instead be grouped with trigonometry in precalculus courses because these kinds of math are more naturally related, Dalal suggested.
    Carson Swick, Baltimore Sun, 26 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Going 7-of-10 from the stripe also helped seal the deal.
    Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2025
  • In the '90s, florals, stripes, and gingham adorned many a kitchen surface—from wallpaper to window treatments and tablecloths.
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Type.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/type. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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