as in loosely
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Recent Examples of metaphorically
New gyms in Oakland, Harlem, and other areas aren’t just meeting recreational demand—they’re creating spaces where young people can literally and metaphorically reach new heights.
—
Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 9 Sep. 2025
Garfield was visibly amused and turned in his seat, physically and metaphorically giving his costars the floor to answer, while Roberts and Edebiri gave Polidoro confused glances.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 2025
That — metaphorically and literally — is earned dogmatism, the risk that expertise breeds rigidity in our thinking and decision-making.
—Tim Maurer, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Earl has always rapped metaphorically about his life being akin to a physical journey to a certain destination (fulfillment?
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for metaphorically
Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 9 Sep. 2025
Garfield was visibly amused and turned in his seat, physically and metaphorically giving his costars the floor to answer, while Roberts and Edebiri gave Polidoro confused glances.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 2025
That — metaphorically and literally — is earned dogmatism, the risk that expertise breeds rigidity in our thinking and decision-making.
—Tim Maurer, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Earl has always rapped metaphorically about his life being akin to a physical journey to a certain destination (fulfillment?
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for metaphorically
Recent Examples of Synonyms for metaphorically
Adverb
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Kam Patterson, who is arriving from the Austin scene, a thriving-but-controversial branch of the comedy world loosely organized around Joe Rogan and his imitators.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
1 Oct. 2025
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The 67-year-old singer arrived at the Saint Laurent spring 2026 show outside the Eiffel Tower on Monday night during Paris Fashion Week, her wavy blond hair loosely trapped under the collar of her leather top, curls snaking around the edges of her face, pooling just below her collarbone.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
30 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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Wallets, coins, and rings are carelessly passed around this little society, and messages are corrupted—from Orsino’s wooing of Olivia, which is accidentally undone by his own go-between, Viola, to the letters that deceive Malvolio.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
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But also just a touch ironic — like a man handing out fire safety pamphlets while carelessly flipping burgers over a bonfire on his porch.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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Pulte also said James may have inaccurately described her Brooklyn home.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
20 Sep. 2025
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Conservatives had complained that the Jimmy Kimmel Live host had inaccurately described the political beliefs held by the man accused of shooting the Turning Point USA founder.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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Because of the weir, the 220-acre lagoon can’t flow freely to the ocean and is slowly filling with silt and reeds.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
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This setup allowed wearers to walk freely while receiving stabilization at the hips and knees, a valuable aid for rehabilitation.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Metaphorically.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/metaphorically. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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