variants
or metaphorical
as in figurative
expressing one thing in terms normally used for another
an author fond of such metaphorical phrases as "the desert was a fiery furnace"
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of metaphoric
In the United States, golden statuary is rare and usually metaphoric — the Oregon Pioneer, the Golden Driller, the Spirit of Communication.
—
Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Firms acted like the metaphorical kid in a candy store with talent, grabbing every shiny new candidate that crossed their applicant tracking system, with some, like Amazon, even doubling their headcount between 2019 and 2021.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
There is, however, another trait worth mentioning, one perhaps even more foundational to the literal and metaphorical heights of professional rock climbing.
—Namir Khaliq, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
But the Passover Seder also commences the 50-day historical journey to Mount Sinai, the metaphorical site where the Jewish people received the Torah, the laws and traditions that gave shape to their journey, their culture and societal structure.
—Michael Pfleger, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
In the first half, the house is haunted in a metaphorical sense.
—William Earl, Variety, 28 Mar. 2026
But baseball’s outsized importance was still largely diminished as the NFL began sucking all the air out of the metaphorical room.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Appreciative of these qualities, humans have domesticated Cucumis sativus and traded it throughout the world, with the fruit’s coolness becoming another, if metaphorical, tendril.
—Andrés Muedano, JSTOR Daily, 25 Mar. 2026
Miami’s strong Bahamian and Caribbean influence was the metaphorical cherry on top.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Firms acted like the metaphorical kid in a candy store with talent, grabbing every shiny new candidate that crossed their applicant tracking system, with some, like Amazon, even doubling their headcount between 2019 and 2021.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
There is, however, another trait worth mentioning, one perhaps even more foundational to the literal and metaphorical heights of professional rock climbing.
—Namir Khaliq, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
But the Passover Seder also commences the 50-day historical journey to Mount Sinai, the metaphorical site where the Jewish people received the Torah, the laws and traditions that gave shape to their journey, their culture and societal structure.
—Michael Pfleger, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
In the first half, the house is haunted in a metaphorical sense.
—William Earl, Variety, 28 Mar. 2026
But baseball’s outsized importance was still largely diminished as the NFL began sucking all the air out of the metaphorical room.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Appreciative of these qualities, humans have domesticated Cucumis sativus and traded it throughout the world, with the fruit’s coolness becoming another, if metaphorical, tendril.
—Andrés Muedano, JSTOR Daily, 25 Mar. 2026
Miami’s strong Bahamian and Caribbean influence was the metaphorical cherry on top.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for metaphoric
Adjective
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Anderson is a figurative painter in the great tradition of Bacon, Freud and Auerbach.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
3 Apr. 2026
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The following list presents the ten tallest figurative freestanding statues in the world according to their heights, excluding base-structure height and topographical elevation.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The number distilled the North Beach revue (which closed New Year’s Eve 2019) famous for its oversized figural hats, musical parodies and fairy-tale characters into 11.5 minutes.—
Culture Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
13 Mar. 2026
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The holders come in a set of two, adorned with figural bunnies.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Royal Maundy Service sees the sovereign distribute Maundy money, or special coins, to local pensioners (often retirees) in a service symbolic of Jesus washing the Apostles' feet at the last supper.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
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The invitation also ties directly to America 250 celebrations, with congressional leaders highlighting the symbolic weight of the moment.—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Metaphoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/metaphoric. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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