By all accounts, Fr. Mulligan was a paragon of virtue.
Source: tatoeba (731330)
Paragon
/ˈpæɹəɡən/
Synonyms for "paragon" (198 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (40)
Strong matches (59)
Noun(17 words)
craft exemplaremulateepitomesepitomizingequalexampleexamplesexcellenceexemplarfollow examplegalahadgoddesshumanitarianidolidolsinclude examplelodestars
Adjective(4 words)
Related words (99)
Noun(32 words)
marvellmasterpiecesmatchmirrormodelmodel aftermorally uprightmost business-networkedmost civil conductmost medievalnoblewomennonesuchnonesuchesnonpareilnonpareilsnonsucholympianperfectionquintessencesrival
Show 12 more words
role modelrole model for studentssaintseraphsshowplaceshrinespanish espécimenstandardstradivariusthe onlyuncommonerunique person example
mastermasterpiecemasterworkmatchmirrormiss americamodelmostnonesuchnonpareiloptimumparallelpatternpattern of perfectionpeachphoenixpickpiece de resistancepinuppinup girl
Show 36 more words
primeprincipalprizeprodigyprototypepussycatqueenquintessenceraving beautyreigning beautyrulersalt of the earthselectseniorsex kittenshining exampleslick chickstandardstarstunnersuperiorsuperlativesupermansuperstarthe bestthe best everthe greatestthe mostthe topsthe very besttop dogtopstrumpultimatevery modelvirtuoso
Adjective(6 words)
Adverb(1 words)
most catalan
Determiner(3 words)
most role modelthe championthe whole model
Verb(1 words)
set an example
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: ideal, a per se, ace, acme, acmes.
- Sentence evidence is available for paragon, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "paragon".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "paragon"
Keep "paragon" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "paragon" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "paragon", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "paragon" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
12 entriesMore specific
10 entriesCollocations
7 entriesliving paragonparagon of beautyparagon of excellenceparagon of generosityparagon of leadershipparagon of meritparagon of virtue
Inflections
3 entriesSample sentences
18 total sentences available.
The metallic gate to what seemed to be another universe became the paragon of postmodern Shinto.
Source: tatoeba (1467902)
Tom shaved his beard off after becoming a fan of stoats, since stoats, the paragon of beauty, don't grow beards.
Source: tatoeba (4463797)
Tom is a paragon of honesty.
Source: tatoeba (7867076)
Showing 4 of 18 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "paragon"?
Closest matches include ideal, a per se, ace, acme, acmes.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "paragon"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.