variants
also archetypical
1
as in classic
constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated
St. Peter's basilica in Rome is considered by some art historians to be the archetypal structure in the baroque style
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in typical
having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind
the movie's hero is pretty archetypal, lacking in any distinctive qualities that would distinguish him from countless other masked avengers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of archetypal
But beyond that, this conflict has a dramatic, even archetypal, quality to it, pitting polar opposites against each other.
—
Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Billy Idol, their frontman, was a member of the Bromley Contingent, an influential cluster of Pistols acolytes on the early punk scene, alongside Siouxsie Sioux and the archetypal model Soo Catwoman.
—Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 5 Apr. 2026
This archetypal hamburger and shake joint, founded in September 1956, initially had a long counter and about four tables.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Shearer and Greaves are considered among the archetypal greatest centre-forwards in the English game, but that accolade now solely belongs to Kane, whose goalscoring achievements in England and Germany are remarkable.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Despite the contrivance, Jewson makes fascinating theater out of this, flipping the archetypal image of the ballerina, and therefore femininity, on its head and rendering it as a kind of weapon, forged by years of putting up with enormous pain, against a world beset by patriarchal violence.
—Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2026
So far, this sounds like an archetypal heroic tale—the protagonist denied his rightful place and forced to undertake impossible tasks to win it back.
—Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
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
This water sign embodies the archetypal mother; the protective space, the nurturing force, and these qualities are precisely what dominates now.
—Danijela Pilic, Glamour, 3 Jan. 2026
Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Billy Idol, their frontman, was a member of the Bromley Contingent, an influential cluster of Pistols acolytes on the early punk scene, alongside Siouxsie Sioux and the archetypal model Soo Catwoman.
—Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 5 Apr. 2026
This archetypal hamburger and shake joint, founded in September 1956, initially had a long counter and about four tables.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Shearer and Greaves are considered among the archetypal greatest centre-forwards in the English game, but that accolade now solely belongs to Kane, whose goalscoring achievements in England and Germany are remarkable.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Despite the contrivance, Jewson makes fascinating theater out of this, flipping the archetypal image of the ballerina, and therefore femininity, on its head and rendering it as a kind of weapon, forged by years of putting up with enormous pain, against a world beset by patriarchal violence.
—Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2026
So far, this sounds like an archetypal heroic tale—the protagonist denied his rightful place and forced to undertake impossible tasks to win it back.
—Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
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
This water sign embodies the archetypal mother; the protective space, the nurturing force, and these qualities are precisely what dominates now.
—Danijela Pilic, Glamour, 3 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetypal
Adjective
-
Beachy handbags, light jackets, classic pearls, chunky boots—your choice of accompaniments can take things from romantic to edgy to eclectic.—
Kelsey Stiegman,
Glamour,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Many vintage fashion enthusiasts and Lilly Pulitzer collectors specifically seek out white label pieces for their classic prints, silhouettes, and legacy value.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Safonov, who began his football career in Krasnodar’s academy aged 12, is not your typical footballer.—
Tom Burrows,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Performing new music at the Williamsburg, Brooklyn, bar’s long-running open mic is just a typical Sunday night for him and many other patrons.—
Jaeden Pinder,
Rolling Stone,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The White House correspondents will also hand out awards for exemplary reporting.—
David Bauder,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Over in Audubon Park, same date, same time, Mellow Market will be holding things down on the corner of East Winter Park Road and Corrine Drive, steps from Stardust Coffee & Film, and nearby strongholds like East End Market, The Salty and the exemplary Coro restaurant.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Sneaky Jon Cooper The Bolts showed their normal forward lines in pregame warmups, but then had other ideas once the puck dropped Friday night.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
All need normal care to become established, are freeze resistant and make durable plants for the landscape.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Kentucky's famous liquor of choice is the star of the show in this quintessential cocktail.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Picnic benches are such classic, quintessential backyard tables.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Lions valued Mays’ ability to anchor in pass protection, after allowing the second-fastest average time to pressure and a pass-block win rate that ranked 31st in the NFL, per ESPN.—
Colton Pouncy,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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But prices will likely stay high simply because the supply is so low; the average price on April 15 was 30 cents higher than a month earlier, according to the American Automobile Association.—
Aaron Cantú,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This is perhaps a paradigmatic example of how AI can be useful today.—
Konstantin Kakaes,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Through it all, the 55-year-old former Fed governor exudes a confidence that is the antithesis of Harry Truman's paradigmatic two-handed economist — qualities that seemed to attract the president and might be essential in his effort to reform the staid Federal Reserve.—
Steve Liesman,Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
His value is in treating him as a weapon, not forcing him into a standard off-ball template.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The only other non-Israeli citizen to be honored with an Israel Prize did not receive the standard one, but instead got a designation for non-citizens.—
Philissa Cramer,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Archetypal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetypal. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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