A person or thing regarded as an exemplary model of a particular excellence.
Reach for it when holding someone up as an unusually complete example of a valued quality
The mediator was a paragon of fairness even when the room grew tense.
| playful | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
playful
Suits the benchmark against which other examples are judged
Careful Gold standard can sound corporate and commonly refers to methods or products.
warm
shining example
Fits when to praise a visible, inspiring instance in accessible language
Careful The phrase is openly celebratory and less concise than paragon.
professional
Fits when others can learn from a strong example
Careful Model is neutral in degree and can refer to a simplified representation.
formal
epitome
Fits if someone seems to embody the defining qualities of a type
Careful Epitome means the most typical embodiment, which is not always morally excellent.
formal
Suits a representative example worthy of imitation
Careful Exemplar is scholarly and may describe a specimen rather than a person.
literary
Fits when the example embodies a standard almost perfectly
Careful Ideal can be abstract or imagined, whereas a paragon is usually actual.
paragon of virtue
The novel initially presents its mayor as a paragon of virtue.
paragon of patience
Our instructor was a paragon of patience with every first attempt.
considered a paragon
The workshop was considered a paragon of accessible public design.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Tharthan, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 Updated
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