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
Ford’s video captured that phenomenon in its most extreme and visual form — a literal wall of water advancing across the landscape in real time.
—
Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Take this trend a step further and use real fruit in your tablescape for a literal adaptation—scatter fresh, whole oranges, tomatoes, or lemons throughout your dining table and wow your guests with this happy yet uber-simple decor.
—Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2026
Discovering literal and metaphorical sunshine on the West Coast, King Tuff broadened his palette with a pair of records built on the softer side of psych.
—Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 15 Apr. 2026
The bright red blood was the literal red flag of colorectal cancer, compared to the darker, or black and tarry blood that often indicates upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for literal
Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Take this trend a step further and use real fruit in your tablescape for a literal adaptation—scatter fresh, whole oranges, tomatoes, or lemons throughout your dining table and wow your guests with this happy yet uber-simple decor.
—Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2026
Discovering literal and metaphorical sunshine on the West Coast, King Tuff broadened his palette with a pair of records built on the softer side of psych.
—Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 15 Apr. 2026
The bright red blood was the literal red flag of colorectal cancer, compared to the darker, or black and tarry blood that often indicates upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for literal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literal
Adjective
-
Students walk past paintings of historical scenes that include Betsy Ross sewing an American flag and down hallways lined with portraits of the Founding Fathers.—
Lauren Lumpkin,
Washington Post,
20 Apr. 2026
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As the study authors stated, the historical sources on the Roman Empire typically don’t include information about the provinces far from the capital.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That's just not factual; here's what scientists really know.—
Zoe Mintz,
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2026
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In other words, the life-writer cannot take a doggedly factual approach that ignores a whole layer of emotional and imaginative experience.—
Sara Wheeler,
Big Think,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Biscuits, waffles, pancakes and eggs — basically, all your breakfast dreams come true — plus classic diner lunches and home-style dinner staples are coming up fast at a James Beard Award semifinalist’s new restaurant in where Plaza Midwood and Plaza Shamrock meet.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2026
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That’s true, said one former counterterrorism official with direct knowledge of the intelligence involved, but there was more to the story.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Alongside the Cannes Docs selection, Circle also revealed Circle Digital Empowerment, an online series led by industry practitioners, aimed at preparing its community for the technological changes reshaping the documentary landscape.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
15 Apr. 2026
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The American Cinematheque’s This Is Not a Fiction festival, which kicks off this week in Los Angeles, has emerged as something truly special in the documentary exhibition space.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
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 24 Apr. 2026.
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