TYPE Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

type 1 of 2

noun

ˈtīp

Definition of type

as in kind

a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common what type of people do you generally hang out with?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in category

one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic a music store that has a good selection of all types of music, not just pop, rock, and rap

Synonyms & Similar Words

type

2 of 2

verb

as in to classify

to arrange or assign according to type type the birds by geographical range

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Trump is named as a defendant in the suit, along with Natalie Harp and Daniel Scavino, aides who are said to type his Truth Social posts, among other parties. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026 What people pay for is not having to type, which puts you up against workflow tools, meeting tools, and eventually the text box in front of every AI model. — Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026 Rather than typing your entire research question into the JSTOR search bar, use your keywords to guide your research. — Kristen Finch, JSTOR Daily, 14 Aug. 2026 Instead of typing, users can sign to search the web, write messages and documents, or interact with Google’s Gemini. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for type

Recent Examples of Synonyms for type

Noun

John Ratcliffe’s surprise talks with Russian officials were the first of their kind since his predecessor visited in late 2021, also to deliver a warning — to not attack Ukraine.

— Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026
The United States and India finalized a consequential trade deal in February, the first of its kind between the two countries, which promises to increase bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.

— C. Raja Mohan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of kind

Noun

Thailand has yet to secure an Oscar nomination in the international feature category.

— Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
The screenplay placed second in the horror category at the 2025 Slamdance Screenplay Competition, winning Filmmatic’s Horror/Thriller Screenplay Awards, and selected for the 2026 Grey List.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of category

Verb

Back then, Pluto was classified as a full planet, but the discovery of 1992 QB-1, as well as Kuiper Belt objects even larger than Pluto found later, raised questions about Pluto's status.

— Tariq Malik, Space.com, 30 Aug. 2026
In some cases, LinkedIn says views of content classified as AI spam have decreased by as much as 40 percent.

— Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of classify

Noun

Sorry to sit on the fence but both of them… There was little to like about a stale, out-of-sorts Manchester United facing a side with not a single fearsome attacker.

— Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
No matter your hurry, overloading your washing machine will produce a headache of a different sort (and might even cost you more money).

— Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of sort

Verb

Models ranked some outcomes more consistently than individual evaluators.

— Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
An internal company memo from around the time of the recovery mission — also obtained by CNBC — indicates Coupang coordinated the computer recovery at the behest of a high-ranking national security officer from the South Korean president’s office.

— Justin Papp, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of rank

Noun

The project uses horror and darkly comic genre elements to approach the psychological pressures of motherhood, extending Urban’s interest in personal experience as a route into broader social and political terrain.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
The [same goes for] Prisoner and Sweetpea, which does this in a very genre way.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of genre

Verb

According to testimony by Leah Barros on behalf of the California Hospital Association, the bill would group private detention facilities with licensed behavioral health facilities already governed by strict state guidelines.

— Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
The Governors no longer are grouped with Class 5A sectional nemesis Merrillville, which has ended each of their past three seasons.

— Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of group

Noun

For years, Cole was mystified by a small, beanlike object with stripes which lurked in the background of certain drawings.

— Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
The 2000s look typically paired these bright palettes with bold prints like polka dots, stripes, and paisleys.

— Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of stripe

Browse Nearby Words

tykes

type

typed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Type.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/type. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of type

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Dipping Into the Mailbag: 'Yeet,'...

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes

Synonyms of type

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to type

Dipping Into the Mailbag: 'Yeet,'...

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes