SYMBOLICAL Synonyms: 13 Similar and Opposite Words

symbolic

adjective

sim-ˈbä-lik

variants also symbolical

Definition of symbolic

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

Relevance

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 symbolic The structure was decorated with fir branches and purple fabric—two elements chosen for their strong symbolic meaning. — Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 9 Sep. 2026 But the move is a symbolic expression of displeasure with Israel by some of its closest allies, and new sign of its growing isolation as a result of the Gaza war. — ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026 Developers could write symbolic names instead of raw numbers, and an assembler translated them into machine instructions. — Boris Kontsevoi, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026 Hermès’s symbolic capital was on display at this summer’s World Cup. — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for symbolic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for symbolic

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

Definition of representative

Adjective

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

Definition of representational

Adjective

The company’s addition of another high-capacity facility in Louisiana is emblematic of the new NSTP’s lofty goals, as well as its underlying purpose, says Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist who tracks launch and spaceport statistics.

— Elizabeth Howell, Scientific American, 7 Sep. 2026
At Jewelry Monograph, the immersive experience presents conceptual and emblematic pieces within an artistic exhibition.

— Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of emblematic

Browse Nearby Words

symboled

symbolic

symboling

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Symbolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/symbolic. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of symbolic

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

hobnob

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

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

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes