as in loosely
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Recent Examples of metaphorically
By patriarchal design, there is nothing less desirable and less attractive than a woman who refuses to be the vessel of men’s pleasure, literally and metaphorically—lesbianism is the ultimate rejection of the role prescribed to us as women.
—
Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
Here, his mournful ex-convict is finally tasting freedom in a country that wants to keep him metaphorically shackled.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Literally and metaphorically, Starr wears his past lightly.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
That view began to rupture as the first shots of the Revolutionary War rang out in Lexington and Concord in 1775, and a year later Americans resolved to topple the king – metaphorically and literally.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for metaphorically
Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
Here, his mournful ex-convict is finally tasting freedom in a country that wants to keep him metaphorically shackled.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Literally and metaphorically, Starr wears his past lightly.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
That view began to rupture as the first shots of the Revolutionary War rang out in Lexington and Concord in 1775, and a year later Americans resolved to topple the king – metaphorically and literally.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for metaphorically
Recent Examples of Synonyms for metaphorically
Adverb
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Holmes wore the sandals with a blue pinstriped button-down, loosely French-tucked into dark wide-leg denim trousers.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
2 June 2026
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For whole heads of lettuce, store whole, wrapped loosely with a paper towel, in a breathable bag or container in the crisper drawer.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
30 May 2026
Adverb
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Done carelessly, a ban is unlikely to succeed.—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
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But the same tool, used carelessly, will do real harm.—
Lutz Finger,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
Adverb
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Though Rogers is Christian, his story of transformation from weakling to hero certainly spoke to young Jewish boys and men, who were often inaccurately portrayed in the media and press as intellectually superior but physically inferior.—
Miriam Eve Mora,
The Conversation,
7 May 2026
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In 2024, Abbott recalled several lots of Libre 3 sensors due to inaccurately high readings.—
Elizabeth Chuck,
NBC news,
11 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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On their run to the final, PSG scored so freely — six against Bayern Munich, four against Liverpool, eight against Chelsea.—
Amy Lawrence,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
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But until now, nobody had tested what these compounds do to fish living freely in a natural ecosystem.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Metaphorically.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/metaphorically. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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