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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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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Recent Examples of archetype
In the current era, representing this old-school archetype had led to Pedranti being continuously called out and shamed by her co-stars for being irresponsible with money.
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Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2024
The classic archetype has these magical beings cooking up spells of the occult variety, often for devious purposes.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 18 Oct. 2024
And in much the same way Black Gatsby—who released his debut album, House of Gatsby, in 2022—has challenged character archetypes, he’s applied a kind of iconoclasm to his career.
—Alex Ross, People.com, 15 Oct. 2024
Aside from the pragmatic aspects of unlocking new archetypes, these character stories are some of the best facets of the game.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 14 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for archetype 
Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2024
The classic archetype has these magical beings cooking up spells of the occult variety, often for devious purposes.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 18 Oct. 2024
And in much the same way Black Gatsby—who released his debut album, House of Gatsby, in 2022—has challenged character archetypes, he’s applied a kind of iconoclasm to his career.
—Alex Ross, People.com, 15 Oct. 2024
Aside from the pragmatic aspects of unlocking new archetypes, these character stories are some of the best facets of the game.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 14 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for archetype
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetype
Noun
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Being a forerunner in your circle will put you in a good position and enable you to quickly field new possibilities, offering advantages.Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 2 Nov. 2024
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Lilly developed its forerunner more than 30 years prior, according to reporting from FiercePharma. Market pricing for prescription drugs creates the incentives that perpetuate this cycle of innovation.Sally Pipes, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Disney+ unveiled its expansion into Japanese unscripted content with Traveling with Snow Man (working title), alongside its launch of new Japanese originals including BULLET/BULLET and CAT’S EYE.Sara Merican, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
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The 2019 Disney original Noelle imagines the North Pole as a monarchy — specifically, one that follows the same sexist rules as European royalty who forbade women from taking the throne.Katie Rife, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Now, Hall is helping safeguard the legacy of his ancestors—and redefining generational wealth in the process.Sofia Perez, Saveur, 21 Nov. 2024
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Fleshing out the ensemble cast of characters are Keiran Atreides (Chris Mason), an ancestor of Paul Atreides; the emperor's wife Natalya (Jodhi May); and Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel), a mysterious soldier with a shocking revelation about a trip to Arrakis.Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 15 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The company has developed several prototypes but requires further funding to continue development.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
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The company is now in the process of building three new prototypes, which will be subjected to both air and ground testing over the next 18 months.Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Macht’s stint is a guest arc and is not a precursor to him potentially joining Suits LA full-time.Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
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The move into Selfridges is a precursor to a broader global expansion effort.James Manso, WWD, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
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In many places in Texas, plain tap water is delicious, whether derived from surface, underground or cistern sources.Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
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The physical model was inspired by resonance chambers–a structure that enhances the transfer of energy from a sound source, like the string of a guitar.Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Archetype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetype. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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