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
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Recent Examples of literal
That sense of space, both literal and emotional, is central to the film's environmental and psychological subtext.
—
Scott Snowden, Space.com, 18 June 2025
Among the players connected to the disappearance are a wide and varied cast of Austin characters: an up-and-coming boxer who crossed the border from Mexico under strange circumstances, a rookie cop determined to crack the case, a grifter clown (figurative and literal).
—Lucas Schaefer
june 13, Literary Hub, 13 June 2025
Dever endorsed a more literal interpretation of Alston.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 June 2025
In my experience, the emotional truth tends to override the literal one.
—Gary Baum, People.com, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for literal
Scott Snowden, Space.com, 18 June 2025
Among the players connected to the disappearance are a wide and varied cast of Austin characters: an up-and-coming boxer who crossed the border from Mexico under strange circumstances, a rookie cop determined to crack the case, a grifter clown (figurative and literal).
—Lucas Schaefer
june 13, Literary Hub, 13 June 2025
Dever endorsed a more literal interpretation of Alston.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 June 2025
In my experience, the emotional truth tends to override the literal one.
—Gary Baum, People.com, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for literal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literal
Adjective
-
Walk the grounds at historical parks such as First State (Delaware), Ninety Six (South Carolina), Valley Forge (eastern Pennsylvania) and Morristown (New Jersey).—
Ken Burns,
USA Today,
18 June 2025
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Members of the congregation placed important documents and the history of the church in a copper box embedded in the cornerstone, though only a few of the charter members who organized the congregation in 1858 were living and present at the ceremony, historical documents said.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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This expansive series was edited by Paul E. Blackwood, a scientist and educator with the US Office of Education, who also wrote government bulletins and surveys on science education research As interest in children’s science books grew, many educators stressed the importance of factual accuracy.—
Jessica George,
JSTOR Daily,
25 June 2025
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Limited training data, large language model design and a lack of real-world experience can create responses that meet the best probable response instead of factual answers.—
Gaurav Basra,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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Brown, the top returning rusher in the league (1,173 yards as a true freshman), will be running behind an offensive line that returns only one starter.—
Manny Navarro,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
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But while the South gets most of the spotlight, the true magic lies further away.—
Jim Dobson,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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On June 26, Kino Lorber introduced the trailer to Shari & Lamb Chop, a documentary portrait of trailblazing children’s entertainer Shari Lewis and her beloved sock puppet Lamb Chop.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
26 June 2025
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See below for a complete list of the documentary Emmy winners.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
26 June 2025
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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 1 Jul. 2025.
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