symbolic

adjective

sym·bol·ic | \ sim-ˈbä-lik

variants: or less commonly symbolical \ sim-ˈbä-li-kəl

Definition of symbolic

1a : using, employing, or exhibiting a symbol

b : consisting of or proceeding by means of symbols

2 : of, relating to, or constituting a symbol

3 : characterized by or terminating in symbols symbolic thinking

4 : characterized by symbolism a symbolic dance

Other Words from symbolic Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about symbolic

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Examples of symbolic in a Sentence

The lighting of the candles is symbolic. The sharing of the wine has symbolic meaning.

Recent Examples on the Web

The patrols, which were routine during the Cold War, are largely symbolic. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Russia Resumes Fighter Patrols Over the North Pole," 6 Feb. 2019 It was considered an important symbolic victory in the country’s campaign to stamp out Islamic extremism. — Ben Otto, WSJ, "Indonesia to Grant Early Release to Radical Islamic Cleric Abu Bakar Bashir," 18 Jan. 2019 Picked off Moscow streets and sent into the lab then the skies, Laika's contribution to space history would be largely symbolic. — Nathan Mattise, Ars Technica, "Laika: Forget historic tragedy, this first space dog saves alien planets," 14 Oct. 2018 Ultimately, Trump’s decision to depart from the agreement is largely symbolic on a policy level. — Susmita Baral, Teen Vogue, "Trump and the Paris Climate Change Agreement, Explained," 2 Aug. 2018 The vote was symbolic: The nonbinding resolution carries with it no mechanism to make the president stand down. — Tory Newmyer, Washington Post, "The Finance 202: Senate rebuke of Trump tariffs won't actually change anything," 12 July 2018 But some archaeologists have begun to challenge the idea that ochre was primarily symbolic for early humans. — Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, "Pigment of Our Imagination," 23 Mar. 2018 The government easily won the largely symbolic votes in France's lower house of parliament. — Sylvie Corbet, Fox News, "France's Macron survives no-confidence votes amid scandal," 31 July 2018 The government easily won the largely symbolic votes in France’s lower house of parliament. — Sylvie Corbet, The Seattle Times, "France’s Macron survives no-confidence votes amid scandal," 31 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'symbolic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.