representational

Definition of representationalnext
as in symbolic
having the function or meaning of an object or figure that stands for something else a computer program with representational icons for different functions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of representational Tellingly, not one of these standout garments is plastered with logos, cheeky text, or some representational figure (festive or otherwise). Jon Roth, Robb Report, 5 Sep. 2026 There are very real representational problems with regard to realism, phones, and internet life’s microwave instructions for rendering the literal ironic and the ironic literal. M. C. Mah, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026 So what better way to counter decades of representational flattening than with a show whose central characters are young Londoners who share that label but little besides it—and then throw them together in a punk band? Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026 Created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, the show was celebrated for its representational milestones both in front and behind the camera for the entirety of its three season run. Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 The Semiquincentennial Commission was conjured into being by Congress back in 2016, during that long-ago summer when the Democratic Party was convening in Philadelphia and the succession of one form of representational liberalism to another seemed pretty well secure. Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 From the sitcom’s second season, Allen created an ecosystem of Black characters from varying socioeconomic backgrounds, with different ideals and goals, while showcasing both representational and aspirational models of Black excellence. Ronda Racha Penrice, VIBE.com, 4 June 2026 Soon, this recognition stretched to include representational painting by younger Black artists, as museums, galleries, and collectors still more clearly signaled their progressive intent. Katy Siegel, Artforum, 2 June 2026 Adapting their identities, behaviors, and social realities to the representational limits of machines. Hamilton Mann, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for representational
Adjective
  • But along with political and practical advantages of navigating through complex new airspace in a range of temperatures, Pegase 26 is highly symbolic.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
  • One possible clue lies in the fact that the moringa tree in particular held a special symbolic significance to ancient Egyptians.
    Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The switch from celluloid to computer chips saw the movies transform from an illusory art form to a representative one, at the great and continued risk of forfeiting its original power.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Without reliable, representative data, AI can’t generate real-time insights or recommend real-world solutions.
    Bryan Mistele, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Representational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/representational. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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