nonmetaphorical

adjective

Definition of nonmetaphoricalnext
as in nonfigurative

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonmetaphorical
  1. nonfigurative
  2. literal
Adjective
  • Abstraction or nonfigurative art was held, if not in some disdain, at least as something less pressing.
    — Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2022
  • Back then, Pop Art—of which Oldenburg’s work was a kind of rough version—was puzzling, if not a bit scandalous to an art world that had, only recently, barely gotten used to the nonfigurative paint pyrotechnics of Abstract Expressionism.
    — Peter Plagens, WSJ, 22 July 2022
Definition of nonfigurative
Adjective
  • Rather than doing a literal adaptation, the creators kept the book’s DNA and tweaked the ideas of evil, temptation and power with a contemporary twist.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Edebiri’s look brings to mind musician Bjork’s quite literal interpretation of a swan dress at the 2001 Academy Awards; an outfit cemented in pop culture history as one of the red carpet’s most referenced, albeit campy, moments.
    — Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of literal
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.

Browse Nearby Words

nonmental
nonmetaphorical
nonmetrical
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Cite this Entry

“Nonmetaphorical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonmetaphorical. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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