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?
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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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Look for classic chocolate and vanilla cones, plus cereal milk ice cream and other specialty flavors.—
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Buckter guided her toward a palette where the colors relate to one another in a classic way, the kind that instantly reads as San Francisco.—
Adjective
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An exemplary beef tartare arrived in the second wave.—
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Coach Smith is an ethical man who has done an exemplary job for the University.—
Adjective
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This water sign embodies the archetypal mother; the protective space, the nurturing force, and these qualities are precisely what dominates now.—
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Director Nadia Hallgren had immense access to Obama, following her across a 34-city book tour and turning the introspective writing into a dynamic reflection of the author as the archetypal modern woman.—
Adjective
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The best beanies for women are quintessential cold-weather hats that strike a delicate balance between staying warm and looking polished, even when the weather is anything but fashion-friendly.—
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The quintessential style merges the charm of a vintage silhouette with a more mature, modern appeal.—
Adjective
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The testing process is built for speed and discretion, delivering a definitive answer in approximately two minutes.—
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Without any definitive answers just yet, there's been lots of speculation in the local press, including questions about whether the couple were murdered or died by suicide.—
Adjective
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But the Red Sox destroyed and ended their relationship with their only true power hitter and proven winner for a player who, though an undeniably excellent addition, was here for 117 total games.—
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Transition metal fluorides are widely regarded as promising cathode materials because of their high theoretical voltages and excellent thermal stability.—
Adjective
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Complete with zip pockets, a continuous drawstring loop, and reflective properties, these leggings are perfect for hiking, jogging, and other outdoor activities.—
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The 1-liter purse’s faux fur exterior feels cozy against the skin and is ideal for winter styling, according to Lululemon shoppers who give it a near-perfect rating.—
Adjective
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Yang’s mock competition with the actor Simu Liu, best known for being the first Asian star of a Marvel movie, poked fun at how goofy these milestones could sound, while also ribbing the expectations set by the model-minority stereotype.—
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Those newer models will make up an increasing share of sales going into next year as the remaining 2025 model-year vehicles are cleared out.—
Cite this Entry
“Paradigmatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paradigmatic. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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