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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Recent Examples of figural
As we are never returned to any figural baseline, our eyes are increasingly ungrounded.
—
Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for figural
Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for figural
Recent Examples of Synonyms for figural
Adjective
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Harrison Bader put a figurative dent into a baseball.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2026
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Literal and figurative pain points included ensuring each piece properly conducting electricity, rigging every square with mechanical keyboard switches to facilitate the connections, and countless unintentional jolts.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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This offers an opportunity for domestic repairs (literal and metaphorical).—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
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These stories reveal how movement, both literal and metaphorical, can propel the ongoing work of self-actualization.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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And perhaps the Nilgiri has something complimentary to say, too, by return of gaze about Bensley’s lovely interiors, which use warm colors and the symbolic palette of Tibetan Buddhism while retaining a quirkiness and insouciance.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
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Instead, Washington stages high-volume skirmishes over symbolic and petty conflicts.—
Jay Caruso,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Figural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/figural. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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