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
The split was messy and ugly, with figurative and literal shots fired, some of which left bullet holes in Sermon’s house while Redman still lived there.
—
Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 8 Mar. 2026
Harrison Bader put a figurative dent into a baseball.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
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
Luxury compact sedans are even more ideal, a car with many of the features of an S-Class but without the weight, both literal and figurative.
—Kyle Hyatt, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for figurative
Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 8 Mar. 2026
Harrison Bader put a figurative dent into a baseball.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
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
Luxury compact sedans are even more ideal, a car with many of the features of an S-Class but without the weight, both literal and figurative.
—Kyle Hyatt, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for figurative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for figurative
Adjective
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Keeping this in mind, continue ahead for mind-bending travel destinations—some covered in mist, yes, others of the metaphorical variety.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2026
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Wright said the platform avoids comparing metaphorical apples to oranges and instead translates it into apples to apples.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The holders come in a set of two, adorned with figural bunnies.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Mar. 2026
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However, giving in to January’s grayness — both literal and figural — is not the only option.—
Morayo Ogunbayo,
AJC.com,
1 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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As development continues, the race between humans and machines may soon extend beyond symbolic comparisons.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Mar. 2026
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So while the floor debate may get heated, any vote that takes place on the bill is mostly symbolic, and all-but-certain to fail.—
Allison Pecorin,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Figurative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/figurative. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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