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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
Then the men sat down at desktop computers, opened their Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and began to type. Mikayla Whitmore, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025 Back inside, Miguel Cardona typed into his cell phone. Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025 Lastly, the Asus ROG Azoth is 28% off for typing enthusiasts looking for incredible customization and buttery-smooth key switches. Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 17 Jan. 2025 In October, Anthropic gave its AI model Claude the ability to use computers—clicking, scrolling, and typing—but this may be just the start. Tharin Pillay, TIME, 16 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for type 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for type
Noun
  • Spradlin said Dick’s House of Sport at Arden Fair mall will be the first of its kind to open in California.
    Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2025
  • Zhou was the epitome of a kind, loving and compassionate gentleman, in addition to his academic drive, Barker Little wrote.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Looking beyond Swift and Beyonce, this category is absolutely loaded with great storylines and possible winners.
    Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Hits were acknowledged but never ruled the category — last year, Wet Leg won for a remix of a Depeche Mode song.
    Justin Curto, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The movement was classified by periodic pulses, or bursts of mobility that lasted for one to two hours.
    Julianna Bragg, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
  • An atomic wedgie is classified as one in which a person's underwear is pulled above the victim's head or higher.
    Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 31 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The cart immediately came out, as Benford looked to be out of sorts.
    Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
  • For some people, a junk journal is a visual diary of sorts, with notes and thoughts jotted in the margins.
    Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Last May, Italian player Jannik Sinner—who is currently ranked number one in the world and clinched his second successive Australian Open—went public with his romance with Russian player Anna Kalinskaya.
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 26 Jan. 2025
  • The 15 best Super Bowl halftime shows, ranked Super Bowl LIX airs on Sunday, Feb. 9 on Fox and streams on Fubo and the Fox Sports app.
    Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 26 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • This year’s festival features films from multiple genres including comedy, drama, documentaries, animation, LGBTQ, horror, religious, foreign and African diaspora, shorts and more.
    David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025
  • And horror audiences see a lot of formal invention, because filmmakers have to try to vary the genre.
    J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • While all of the development’s dwellings are single-family residences, they are grouped into pods of six, each sharing a courtyard and driveway.
    Caitlin Montoya, Charlotte Observer, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Carlson is sometimes grouped with artists affiliated with Indigenous Futurisms, a term the Anishinaabe scholar Grace Dillon coined in 2003 to denote artists whose work offers a Native perspective on the future.
    Jeremy Lybarger, ARTnews.com, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Making a stable back-three system out of it is like painting stripes on a lion and calling it a tiger.
    Phil Hay, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
  • More street-savvy items include a velour tracksuit, windbreakers with reflective stripes, and argyle knits incorporating the brand’s signature CD Diamond logo.
    Joelle Diderich, WWD, 21 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near type

Cite this Entry

“Type.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/type. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on type

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