Synonyms of symbolic

symbolic

adjective

sim-ˈbä-lik 

variants also symbolical

as in representative

having the function or meaning of an object or figure that stands for something else

the butterfly in the poem is symbolic of the impermanence of youth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• representative
• representational
• emblematic
• metaphoric
• figurative
• figural
• tropological
• allegorical

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• actual
• literal
• nonsymbolic

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of symbolic

That’s been apparent for weeks, but the team’s sell-a-thon ahead of the trade deadline served as the symbolic white flag on the year. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026

Only one candidate can be backed by an association — an important detail given the symbolic withdrawal of support for Infantino by a number of countries, including Wales and England, in recent days. — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

The music video — which includes a graphic content warning at the start — features symbolic and gory imagery of societal expectations and fame. — Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026

Johnson views the phrase as symbolic of a broader cultural problem, arguing that celebrating a reputation built on violence diminishes the hundreds of lives lost over the years. — Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026