as in analogies
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 metaphors
This is a series that has always operated as absurd speculation, where broad metaphors about life and science get posited amid techno beats and car chases.
—
David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Its pointed lyrics and dark metaphors have led many to dissect not only Swift’s personal experiences with industry executives but the broader realities facing young artists in the music business today.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Certainly Lockwood’s skill with metaphors has not waned.
—Paul McAdory, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
Chinese doctors warned clinicians that patients may deploy Confucian metaphors framing hereditary cancer as moral condemnation.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
The movie adaptation is also rife with metaphors about boys becoming men and overcoming life-or-death circumstances to make it out the other side.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
However, her ability to use homophones and metaphors allows the songwriting to evolve from being hyper-personal to being universally relatable.
—Marcus K. Dowling, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Sep. 2025
The animal metaphors simply made this explicit.
—Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Instead of turning the actual evils into metaphors.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Its pointed lyrics and dark metaphors have led many to dissect not only Swift’s personal experiences with industry executives but the broader realities facing young artists in the music business today.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Certainly Lockwood’s skill with metaphors has not waned.
—Paul McAdory, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
Chinese doctors warned clinicians that patients may deploy Confucian metaphors framing hereditary cancer as moral condemnation.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
The movie adaptation is also rife with metaphors about boys becoming men and overcoming life-or-death circumstances to make it out the other side.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
However, her ability to use homophones and metaphors allows the songwriting to evolve from being hyper-personal to being universally relatable.
—Marcus K. Dowling, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Sep. 2025
The animal metaphors simply made this explicit.
—Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Instead of turning the actual evils into metaphors.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for metaphors
Noun
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Max’s wide range of uses has prompted analogies to China’s WeChat.—
Justin Sherman,
The Atlantic,
11 Oct. 2025
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When the United States joined NATO in 1949, American policymakers pointed to the Rio Pact as a precedent and drew analogies between the alliance’s founding document, the North Atlantic Treaty, and the Monroe Doctrine.—
JENNIFER KAVANAGH,
Foreign Affairs,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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With natural, biodegradable, and inexpensive components, such batteries could one day provide an eco-friendly alternative for powering homes or small devices without relying on toxic metals or complex supply chains.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
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Officials suspect that three explosive devices were dropped in the parking lot.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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One of Weapons’ conceits is its chapter structure centering on particular characters, and sources say that Cregger actually had a chapter focused on Gladys and some of her backstory.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Aug. 2025
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All the conceits of a true-crime film are there – the lead detective interviews, shaky images from police-cams, the salacious headlines, the nauseating crime scene photos, the TV news reports, teary interviews with friends and family.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Metaphors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/metaphors. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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