paragon

[ par-uh-gon, -guhn ]

/ ˈpær əˌgɒn, -gən /

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See synonyms for: paragon / paragoned / paragoning on Thesaurus.com

noun

a model or pattern of excellence or of a particular excellence: a paragon of virtue.

someone of exceptional merit: Just who is this paragon whose name is on everyone's lips?

Printing. a 20-point type.

an unusually large, round pearl.

verb (used with object)

Rare. to compare; parallel.

Archaic. to be a match for; rival.

Obsolete. to surpass.

Obsolete. to regard as a paragon.

OTHER WORDS FOR paragon

1 ideal, standard, epitome, quintessence; example, exemplar, paradigm.

2 nonesuch, nonpareil.

See synonyms for paragon on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of paragon

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French paragon, parangon “model,” from Old Italian paragone “touchstone,” from paragonare “to compare, test on a touchstone,” from Greek parakonân “to sharpen, whet,” equivalent to para- “beside, alongside” + akonân “to sharpen, whet,” a derivative of akónē “whetstone, bone”

OTHER WORDS FROM paragon

par·a·gon·less, adjective

Words nearby paragon

paraglider, paragliding, paraglyph printing, paragnathous, paragoge, paragon, paragonimiasis, Paragonimus, Paragonimus westermani, paragonite, Paragould

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use paragon in a sentence

First by posing as the paragon of Israeli security, then by sufficiently polarizing Israeli society to sabotage coalition negotiations being undertaken by his various rivals.
Israel-Palestine is a State of Permanent Conflict Punctuated by Periodic Carnage. Only the Watching World Can Stop It|Mouin Rabbani|May 13, 2021|Time
It is going to “ruin” college sports, as if the enterprise is a paragon of purity.
NCAA’s transfer changes are good for athletes and challenging for coaches. Seems fair.|Jerry Brewer|April 16, 2021|Washington Post
As with so many self-professed paragons of strategy and masculinity, the man who advertised himself routinely as “virile, vigorous and potent” was most famous for underperforming.
Little Liddys everywhere: The legacy of a political ‘super-klutz’|Dan Zak|March 31, 2021|Washington Post
Plenty of liberal-leaning shows aren’t paragons of truth either, but they haven’t been banned.
Twitter and YouTube Banned Steve Bannon. Apple Still Gives Him Millions of Listeners.|by Lydia DePillis|January 19, 2021|ProPublica

The 151-year-old sport of college football has never been a paragon of parity, but its imbalance might be growing more imbalanced.
The College Football Playoff has become an exclusive club. West Coast schools not invited.|Chuck Culpepper|December 18, 2020|Washington Post
The Ralph Retort, a paragon of ethical journalism websites, decided to make crowdsourcing stuff to discredit me into a project.
Rage Against GamerGate’s Hate Machine: What I Got For Speaking Up|Arthur Chu|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Paragon of virtue Oliver North called for charges to be filed against Warner Brothers Music.
A Brief History of the Phrase 'F*ck the Police'|Rich Goldstein|August 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While Bacall seems like a paragon of cool confidence in the final product, she was a nervous wreck on set.
Bogie & Bacall: A Hollywood Romance for the Ages|Marlow Stern|August 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The man who holds ABC/ESPN's wacky goulash of World Cup punditry together strikes viewers as a paragon of congeniality.
World Cup Anchor Mike Tirico’s Bizarre History: Reports of Stalking and Sexual Harassment|Marlow Stern|July 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was a paragon of masculinity—a tall, dark, and impossibly handsome enigma.
What's Happened to Don Draper? Why Everyone’s Favorite ‘Mad Men’ Stud Needs His Mojo Back|Lizzie Crocker|April 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Presently I enquired when she proposed to introduce this paragon to the person responsible for him.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, November 4, 1914|Various
I recall the case of a gentleman whose reputation was that of a paragon of all the virtues.
The Sexual Life of the Child|Albert Moll
Olga, a paragon of maids, if references and experience count, showed no signs of the wear and tear of previous mistresses.
The Beauty|Mrs. Wilson Woodrow
Alice Turner was engaged also, and certainly very much in love if she considered the young man a paragon.
A Little Girl in Old Salem|Amanda Minnie Douglas
Then he thought bitterly upon that paragon of perfection who had caused his banishment.
The Honorable Percival|Alice Hegan Rice

British Dictionary definitions for paragon

paragon

/ (ˈpærəɡən) /

noun

a model of excellence; patterna paragon of virtue

a size of printer's type, approximately equal to 20 point

verb (tr)

archaic

to equal or surpass
to compare
to regard as a paragon

Word Origin for paragon

C16: via French from Old Italian paragone comparison, from Medieval Greek parakonē whetstone, from Greek parakonan to sharpen against, from para- 1 + akonan to sharpen, from akonē whetstone

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

paragon

OTHER WORDS FOR paragon

Origin of paragon

OTHER WORDS FROM paragon

Words nearby paragon

Words related to paragon

How to use paragon in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for paragon

Word Origin for paragon