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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Recent Examples of literal
The Last Drop Distillers was founded by spirits industry veterans Tom Jago and James Espey in 2008, with a focus on finding and bottling the literal last drops of rare spirits from around the world.
—
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2025
Both these teams will have a shot at making it into March Madness and the literal field of 68.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025
Avoid making a literal hot mess by blending a small amount of milk and the chocolates, then add more milk once it's combined.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
In a literal and figurative redrawing of the political map, Gavin Newsom‘s Proposition 50 has handily been passed by California voters.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for literal
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2025
Both these teams will have a shot at making it into March Madness and the literal field of 68.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025
Avoid making a literal hot mess by blending a small amount of milk and the chocolates, then add more milk once it's combined.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
In a literal and figurative redrawing of the political map, Gavin Newsom‘s Proposition 50 has handily been passed by California voters.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for literal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literal
Adjective
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And if Democrats win one or both chambers of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, the checks on the president would likely revert to historical norms—perhaps even returning to the congressional assertiveness of the immediate post-Watergate era.—
Peter D. Feaver,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
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There’s longstanding historical hostility between the two countries; China was a crucial Allied partner, fighting against Japan’s full-scale invasion that ended only with Tokyo’s formal surrender in 1945.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
12 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Headquartered in London, Longwave will focus on factual content for the global TV market across all unscripted genres – from investigative series, factual entertainment formats through to human interest stories.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
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This factual omission extended as well to his professional life.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The interior of the shoe stays true to the brand’s line of classic winter boots, lined with a plush wool blend.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
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One mailer in particular said that Persson and fellow Democratic candidates wanted to build apartments on 300 acres of green space, which isn’t true, Persson said.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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There’s a lot of almost documentary material in it as well.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
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The race for the documentary feature Academy Award spotlights quality filmmaking, but also requires a whole lot of money and the support of international doc branch voters.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Recently, this sacrament has garnered nonfictional attention.—
Timothy Gabrielli,
The Conversation,
25 Aug. 2025
Video
Literally
A word that (literally) drives people nuts
Cite this Entry
“Literal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/literal. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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