as in figurative
expressing one thing in terms normally used for another
"a candidate running for office" is just a figural expression
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of figural
Arrange the Charlie Brown and Snoopy figural mugs on a coffee or drink station, paired with extra-dark hot chocolate, caramel apple cider, or spiced coffee.
—
Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Aug. 2025
Abstract painters, figural painters, composers, language poets . . .
—Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2025
The company dates back to the late 1930s and is known for its sweet candles in figural shapes such as Santas, snowmen, and carolers.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2024
But for his own figural edification, Degas made lots of small sculptures, mostly of dancers, horses and bathers, subjects that also populated his paintings.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for figural
Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Aug. 2025
Abstract painters, figural painters, composers, language poets . . .
—Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2025
The company dates back to the late 1930s and is known for its sweet candles in figural shapes such as Santas, snowmen, and carolers.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2024
But for his own figural edification, Degas made lots of small sculptures, mostly of dancers, horses and bathers, subjects that also populated his paintings.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for figural
Recent Examples of Synonyms for figural
Adjective
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Mixing and matching styles, abstract with figurative, oils with watercolors, sketches with photos, can create visual interest.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Oct. 2025
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Onstage, figurative images steal focus from the music.—
Alma Rota,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That grounding effect is more than metaphorical.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Southern Living,
21 Oct. 2025
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Advertisement Diplomacy appeared to be another—and not just in the metaphorical sense.—
Karl Vick,
Time,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Ari Aster's sophomore directorial effort might seem like another atmospheric cultish folk horror, but the film uses the genre as a symbolic journey for the overcoming of grief and shedding one life for another.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
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Ancient Origins continues that archaeologists expected to find human remains or grave goods, the absence of which communicated to researchers that the site was a cenotaph, a symbolic grave for someone who was laid to rest elsewhere.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Figural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/figural. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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