as in metaphoric
expressing one thing in terms normally used for another
the figurative use of "allergy" to mean "a feeling of dislike"
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of figurative
Another superb show featured Matthew Wong, a painter of intimate, hauntingly lovely figurative works inspired by van Gogh and Matisse.
—
Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
Monguidi’s second task was to cut the figurative ribbon on Rimowa’s newest flagship store in Cologne, the city where its beloved aluminum suitcases are made.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 15 May 2026
In practice, that means a collector can walk from an Egyptian stele to a Calder mobile to a brand-new figurative painting in less than two minutes.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 15 May 2026
Call it a figurative arm-twisting.
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for figurative
Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
Monguidi’s second task was to cut the figurative ribbon on Rimowa’s newest flagship store in Cologne, the city where its beloved aluminum suitcases are made.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 15 May 2026
In practice, that means a collector can walk from an Egyptian stele to a Calder mobile to a brand-new figurative painting in less than two minutes.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 15 May 2026
Call it a figurative arm-twisting.
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for figurative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for figurative
Adjective
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Every time an underperforming manager missed a deadline or botched a client presentation, Marcus would swoop in, grab the metaphorical hose and put out the fire himself.—
Janine Schindler,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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Nonetheless, Leeds will arrive at the London Stadium this weekend already on the metaphorical beach.—
Graham Ruthven,
New York Times,
24 May 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
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Taken together, those cultural threads help explain why food – and especially meat – carries an outsized symbolic role in Texas politics, where the official state dish, adopted in 1977, is chili, defined by its significant meat base.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
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For inheritors of the banana leaf-wrapping tradition, this practice has both the literal and symbolic capacity to contain that relationship.—
Sophia Rey,
JSTOR Daily,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Figurative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/figurative. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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