as in analogy
an elaborate or fanciful way of expressing something
"it's raining cats and dogs" is just a colorful metaphor and not a meteorological announcement
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Recent Examples of metaphor
Weapons is a layered story told through different character perspectives, with a compelling metaphor at the heart of the film.
—
Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Archer’s dogged determination to make Justine’s life hell hints at a metaphor for vigilante justice.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
To anyone who still remembers January 6, 2021, this is not just a metaphor.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2025
The comic and actor sees golf as a metaphor for, well, pretty much everything.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for metaphor
Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Archer’s dogged determination to make Justine’s life hell hints at a metaphor for vigilante justice.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
To anyone who still remembers January 6, 2021, this is not just a metaphor.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2025
The comic and actor sees golf as a metaphor for, well, pretty much everything.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for metaphor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for metaphor
analogy
Noun
-
An analogy to the Trump administration’s economic policy is useful here.—
Ross Douthat,
Mercury News,
14 Aug. 2025
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The analogy to occupied Ukraine is imperfect but in both cases children were barred from speaking their language or following their traditions.—
Peter Pomerantsev,
Time,
14 Aug. 2025
Video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs
Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes
Cite this Entry
“Metaphor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/metaphor. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
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