analogical

adjective

an·​a·​log·​i·​cal ˌa-nə-ˈlä-ji-kəl How to pronounce analogical (audio)
variants or less commonly analogic
1
: of, relating to, or based on analogy
2
: expressing or implying analogy
analogically adverb

Examples of analogical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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An organismic model for human societies and organizations is appealing because of its analogical power, but these sorts of data indicate that the analogy may be rooted in concrete more-than-the-sum-of-their-parts dynamics. Discover Magazine, 20 Nov. 2019 It was intended to paint the EU’s role in this diplomatic dispute as that of the anti-colonial insurgent, a role that chimes well with the limited, analogical way that American liberals have of understanding Ireland. Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 18 June 2021 Leveraging the power of analogical and computational thinking. Heide Abelli, Forbes, 6 May 2021 In short, the key to prepare for the future is analogical reasoning. Christian Stadler, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2021 Teddy Roosevelt’s crusade against the robber barons has a lot of analogical appeal for people who agree with Miller about the coercive nature of private corporations. Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 28 Feb. 2021 So George Dyson argues in this brilliant, idiosyncratic meta-meditation on analogical analogs throughout history. Wired Staff, Wired, 16 Dec. 2020 Similar habits of analogical inference guide scientists in their speculations about features of the cosmos. Peter E. Gordon, The New York Review of Books, 7 Jan. 2020 The signatories of the open letter to the USHMM were entirely right to say that analogical reasoning is indispensable to the human sciences. Peter E. Gordon, The New York Review of Books, 7 Jan. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Latin analogicus "of grammatical analogy" (borrowed from Greek analogikós "based on mathematical ratios, of analogy in grammar," from analogía "proportion, analogy" + -ikos -ic entry 1) + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of analogical was in 1609

Dictionary Entries Near analogical

Cite this Entry

“Analogical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/analogical. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

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