metaphoric

variants or metaphorical
as in figurative
expressing one thing in terms normally used for another an author fond of such metaphorical phrases as "the desert was a fiery furnace"

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of metaphoric That’s because the acting Oscar races are really more akin to a political campaign that involves millions of dollars, months of meet-and-greets and kissing metaphorical babies, and dozens of screenings and press appearances. — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026 New research suggests that mysterious Little Red Dots discovered in the early universe may actually be overfeeding supermassive black holes, killing two metaphorical birds with one stone. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2026 When that metaphorical whale surfaces in Murphy, Texas, the scene is set for a disaster. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026 Problem spaces are the metaphorical regions that our minds have to navigate to get from a problem to a solution. — Chris Borland, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 Here, your guide to the metaphorical — and literal — cream of the crop for fall, coming in ranging intensities and fruity and dessert-like varieties. — Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026 Manuel spoke with Variety about how the film relates to the colonial past of the country, and the metaphorical symbolism of the golf course. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026 Though it is imbued with metaphorical and historical significance, Olivier also sculpted this work with the physical needs of city dwellers in mind. — Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Lush layers of melody and instrumentation submerges the listener in both metaphoric thought and shifting moods. — Lina Lecaro, SPIN, 18 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for metaphoric
Adjective
  • Viewers can ponder Dunham’s dramatic stylistic shift from abstract forms to cartoonish figurative images through the exhibition’s 50 career-spanning works.
    — Jane Wooldridge, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026
  • These combine interior and exterior figurative imagery from the tropical foliage and vibrant cityscapes around her, but can appear torn and fragmented.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Bernard, the fabricator of phrases, is the book’s second devotee of metaphor, therefore also the first to beguile the others with the potential and pitfalls of figural language.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
  • From figural bakers to upgraded pans, the new collection takes fall baking to a whole other level.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Were tactical arrangements sufficient without symbolic signaling, police training would not need to be so heady, their demeanor so heavy.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Carlson’s essay offers a deeper look at the elaborate symbolic language surrounding 22, A Million, including the meanings behind the album’s unusual song titles and iconography.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 30 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Metaphoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/metaphoric. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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