as in linguistic
of or relating to words or language
a dictionary provides lexical information—it tells you what the word "cat" means, not all there is to know about cats
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Recent Examples of lexical
As part of this unconventional arrangement, CBS agrees to forever do things the Augusta way, which means that the booth talent forever navigates a minefield of potential lexical gaffes.
—
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 11 Apr. 2025
But what obsessed me were the lyrics, which describe tragi-comically bleak scenes of contemporary abjection using language that felt borderline Shakespearean, tied up in elaborate rhyme schemes and tight lexical knots.
—Meaghan Garvey, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2025
Russian speakers in the experiment proved faster than English speakers at distinguishing shades that corresponded to that lexical distinction.
—Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Practically, then, the translator reads with an eye to understanding the affordances offered by a text—to re-creating its potentialities, rather than merely offering a lexical equivalent.
—Max Norman, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lexical
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 11 Apr. 2025
But what obsessed me were the lyrics, which describe tragi-comically bleak scenes of contemporary abjection using language that felt borderline Shakespearean, tied up in elaborate rhyme schemes and tight lexical knots.
—Meaghan Garvey, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2025
Russian speakers in the experiment proved faster than English speakers at distinguishing shades that corresponded to that lexical distinction.
—Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Practically, then, the translator reads with an eye to understanding the affordances offered by a text—to re-creating its potentialities, rather than merely offering a lexical equivalent.
—Max Norman, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lexical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lexical
Adjective
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After the 1707 Act of Union, Scott was reminding British readers that Scotland was a land of linguistic diversity where Scots and Gaelic flowed freely.—
Rachel Ashcroft
July 7,
Literary Hub,
7 July 2025
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Emoji, the not-quite-a-language language, were becoming part of the world’s linguistic—and commercial—infrastructure, importing some of the unruliness of IRL interaction into virtual spaces.—
Megan Garber,
The Atlantic,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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Officials said the woman intentionally collided with a semi-truck and tractor and then refused officers’ verbal commands when she was pulled over.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
27 June 2025
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Goalkeeper Joan Garcia has joined from city rivals Espanyol for his €25million ($28.6m; £21.1m) release clause, while Athletic Club’s Nico Williams has agreed verbal terms with Barca, who do not view his €60m clause as an obstacle.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Which domains are operationally critical and which are purely communicative?—
Daniel Strauss,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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Geminis are social, communicative, and witty, so give your child a name that can keep up!—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lexical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lexical. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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