as in metaphorical
expressing one thing in terms normally used for another
the figurative use of "allergy" to mean "a feeling of dislike"
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Recent Examples of figurative
Taking inspiration from 16th-century outdoor sculpture courtyards, this (indoor) exhibition explores the range of figurative human sculptures in the Walker’s collection.
—
Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025
An English translation of the French story that was first published in 2023, the 208-page tome tells the story of the many obstacles and near-figurative deaths Lucas had to overcome in order to make what would become one of the most consequential movies in pop culture history.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
There’s a literal meaning, and then there’s a figurative meaning.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025
John Henryism involves pressure not just to be good but to be impossibly good—superhuman, better than a machine, whether the machine is literal (the steam drill) or figurative (systemic racism).
—Leslie Jamison, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for figurative
Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025
An English translation of the French story that was first published in 2023, the 208-page tome tells the story of the many obstacles and near-figurative deaths Lucas had to overcome in order to make what would become one of the most consequential movies in pop culture history.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
There’s a literal meaning, and then there’s a figurative meaning.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025
John Henryism involves pressure not just to be good but to be impossibly good—superhuman, better than a machine, whether the machine is literal (the steam drill) or figurative (systemic racism).
—Leslie Jamison, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for figurative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for figurative
Adjective
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Yet if Love’s last pass had stayed in the air a tick longer, the owner’s feet, at least in a metaphorical sense, may not have touched the ground for a long, long time.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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Each of the three biographies—any good biography—vibrates with the intensity of its author’s possession by their subject and the thrill of exhumation, if only metaphoric.—
Megan Marshall
September 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The figural birds are crafted in platinum and 18-karat gold with gemstones — appearing to perch upon the wearer.—
Thomas Waller,
Footwear News,
2 Sep. 2025
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As we are never returned to any figural baseline, our eyes are increasingly ungrounded.—
Jan Tumlir,
Artforum,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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After all, exits and grand finales are part and parcel with any theater and therefore any showgirl's life, and could be purely symbolic in nature.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Sep. 2025
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No visual or symbolic vocabulary ever develops.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Figurative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/figurative. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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