literal

adjective

ˈli-t(ə-)rəl How to pronounce literal (audio)
Definition of literalnext
as in historical
restricted to or based on fact a literal account of the explorer's adventures is actually a lot less interesting than his own exaggerated stories

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of literal Go literal with scholastic motifs, or keep it subtle with bright colors and minimalist designs. — Odeya Pinkus, InStyle, 4 Aug. 2026 Mixed signals, vague expectations or something as simple as literal exhaustion could complicate situations. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026 DeepMind researchers catalogued dozens of examples in 2020 of systems satisfying the literal objective while defeating its purpose. — Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 But the illicit art is only part of the operatic tale of the literal rise and metaphorical fall of what have become informally known as the graffiti towers. — Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for literal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literal
  1. historical
  2. factual
  3. true
  4. documentary
  5. nonfictional
Adjective
  • The beauty lies in part to its gothic Ford Complex — funded by Henry Ford and his wife — and the many historical buildings that wound up earning it a place on the National Register of Historic Places.
    — Carson Bonner, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • After all, household debt balances are elevated, borrowing costs are still expensive by historical standards and inflation is driving up the costs of just about everything, adding pressure to borrowers' budgets.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of historical
Adjective
  • The lawsuits involve separate banks, account agreements and factual allegations.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • In January, the bank asked the judge to throw out Arbuckle’s claims, arguing that evidence exchanged by both sides showed no key factual disputes requiring a jury to resolve.
    — Chase Jordan July 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
Definition of factual
Adjective
  • But regardless of any lack of confidence in Hamas’ true intentions, in Mladenov’s faith in the ability to verify weapons decommissioning, or indeed Netanyahu’s own willingness to order any troop withdrawals, why poke Trump so publicly in the eye?
    — Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • This problem-first strategy is crucial for unlocking AI's true potential.
    — Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of true
Adjective
  • Our waiter, Juan, was – as all servers at Papi Steak are – quick to illuminate the kaleidoscopic dish with a pocket flashlight, apparently for documentary purposes.
    — Connie Ogle July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • The driver brings the baby to friends partying in a night club; his quandary yields existential debate in a police station, a portrait of a courthouse’s bureaucratic frenzy, and a heartrending documentary vision of an orphanage.
    — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 31 July 2026
Definition of documentary
Adjective
  • Pee-Wee as Himself, the 2025 Emmy award winner for best documentary or nonfictional special, is also among the nominees.
    — Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
  • That delirious excess befits the essence of Lapid’s method, which is a fusion of fiction with indigestibly and irreducibly nonfictional elements.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of nonfictional

Browse Nearby Words

literacy
literal
literalism
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Cite this Entry

“Literal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/literal. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of literal for Spanish Speakers

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