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 hotel faces the Column of Abundance, which marks the literal center point of the ancient city.
—
Erica Wertheim Zohar, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
Heidi Gardner celebrated her birthday over the weekend with literal dancing in the streets — with some of the best dancers in town.
—Kansas City Star, 28 July 2025
The changes ahead are likely to be deep and painful, particularly amid a deep recession afflicting the entertainment business in Hollywood, in whose literal physical neighborhood the Paramount lot sits.
—David Bloom, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Some have even played this game for literal decades.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for literal
Erica Wertheim Zohar, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
Heidi Gardner celebrated her birthday over the weekend with literal dancing in the streets — with some of the best dancers in town.
—Kansas City Star, 28 July 2025
The changes ahead are likely to be deep and painful, particularly amid a deep recession afflicting the entertainment business in Hollywood, in whose literal physical neighborhood the Paramount lot sits.
—David Bloom, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Some have even played this game for literal decades.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for literal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literal
Adjective
-
Headlined by Vicky Kaushal, the historical war saga Chhaava remains on top of the list.—
Sweta Kaushal,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
-
The Nelson House, a historical house built in the 1890s, is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The formula for Winner’s Circle became the firm’s calling card: fresh factual entertainment or documentary content focused on stories and names that young audiences care about, produced with the latest technology.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Aug. 2025
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Have honest and factual conversations with friends and family about why due process matters.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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And that’s both true in the Polo world and in the luxury space of Collection and Purple Label.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
7 Aug. 2025
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After an investigation, HUD under Democratic President Joe Biden found in 2023 the allegations to be true.—
Lizzie Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In the run-up to the 2027 Women’s World Cup tournament, Netflix is expected to produce documentary series to spotlight top international players and the global growth of women’s football (known as soccer in North America) overall.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Aug. 2025
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The documentary crew that immortalized Dunder Mifflin’s branch in Scranton, Pa., have found new subjects in the offshoot, still set in the world of paper: the eclectic staff of The Truth Teller, a historic Midwestern newspaper in Toledo, Ohio, well past its glory days.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
7 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 19 Aug. 2025.
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