nonmetaphorical

adjective

Definition of nonmetaphoricalnext
as in nonfigurative

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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
  • Levshunov finishes his food, his literal nature coming into play.
    — Scott Powers, New York Times, 30 July 2026
  • Not proximity in the literal sense, though that helped, but the sense that the people serving the same goal actually knew each other's work.
    — ByRene Madden, Forbes.com, 29 July 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nonmetaphorical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonmetaphorical. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of invidious

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All