metaphorically
adverb
met·a·phor·i·cal·ly
ˌme-tə-ˈfȯr-i-k(ə-)lē 
-ˈfär-
: in a metaphorical or figurative sense rather than a literal sense : by using a metaphor
At the center of every encryption system is a secret number or mathematical operation, metaphorically referred to as a key.—
Peter Wayner
Peter WaynerAt a typical event, he comes crashing onstage, delivers a macho statement of intent, metaphorically flexes his muscles, then roars away.—Terry McCarthy
Terry McCarthyThey settled in Somerville, Mass., next door to Cambridge but metaphorically across the tracks.—Laura Shapiro
Laura ShapiroExamples of metaphorically in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The 12 tracks on Water’s Here in You are stuffed with references to land and light that can be taken both literally and metaphorically, and everything is tinted blue — the album could serve as an audio accompaniment to Maggie Nelson’s book Bluets.
—Leah Lu, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2024
The tiny tool has a lot of star power, literally and metaphorically: In the past year, the new-and-improved version has been used on celebrity after celebrity, including Charles Melton, Olivia Wilde, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.
—Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
Consider this: Interest and interest rates date back to ancient Babylon—where they were engraved into a pillar more than seven feet high (literally and metaphorically set in stone) in Hammurabi’s Code.
—Byallie Garfinkle, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024
So sculpturally, metaphorically, these works that represent very different ethnic backgrounds, will bend together, supporting each other, to survive a hurricane.
—Vogue, 15 Apr. 2024
However, there is a silver lining, both metaphorically and quite visually: Eliasen says the current forecast for the area looks to buck the odds and offer possibly the country's clearest view of the solar display.
—Eric Henderson, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2024
Until our outdated labor laws are finally updated to reflect the realities of the modern workforce and profit-hogging employers lose their ability to pass the buck (both figuratively and metaphorically) to the customers, tipping will continue to cheat workers out of a fair wage.
—Kim Kelly, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
Superposition and entangled particles, the observer effect and liminal space are discussed and enacted, metaphorically and otherwise; there is even a cat that is alive and dead.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2024
Their feats are not just for the sake of a gasp — shout-out here to the astonishing Keaton Hentoff-Killian — but are metaphorically connected to the story on stage.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024
Leah Lu, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2024
The tiny tool has a lot of star power, literally and metaphorically: In the past year, the new-and-improved version has been used on celebrity after celebrity, including Charles Melton, Olivia Wilde, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.
—Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
Consider this: Interest and interest rates date back to ancient Babylon—where they were engraved into a pillar more than seven feet high (literally and metaphorically set in stone) in Hammurabi’s Code.
—Byallie Garfinkle, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024
So sculpturally, metaphorically, these works that represent very different ethnic backgrounds, will bend together, supporting each other, to survive a hurricane.
—Vogue, 15 Apr. 2024
However, there is a silver lining, both metaphorically and quite visually: Eliasen says the current forecast for the area looks to buck the odds and offer possibly the country's clearest view of the solar display.
—Eric Henderson, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2024
Until our outdated labor laws are finally updated to reflect the realities of the modern workforce and profit-hogging employers lose their ability to pass the buck (both figuratively and metaphorically) to the customers, tipping will continue to cheat workers out of a fair wage.
—Kim Kelly, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
Superposition and entangled particles, the observer effect and liminal space are discussed and enacted, metaphorically and otherwise; there is even a cat that is alive and dead.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2024
Their feats are not just for the sake of a gasp — shout-out here to the astonishing Keaton Hentoff-Killian — but are metaphorically connected to the story on stage.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'metaphorically.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Metaphorically.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metaphorically. Accessed 5 May. 2024.
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