variants
also symbolical
as in representational
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
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Recent Examples of symbolic
The final image of Arda Guler before the players’ summer break was a symbolic one for Real Madrid’s young playmaker.
—
Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2025
Regarding the Alaska summit, potentially important mixed symbolic history is involved.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
In a patriarchal society, these traits carry symbolic weight.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025
The authors of The First Idea, Stanley Greenspan, M.D., and philosopher psychologist Stuart Shanker, go so far as to say that language and symbolic thought cannot be explained at all by genetics or natural selection.
—Madeleine Beekman
august 11, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for symbolic
Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2025
Regarding the Alaska summit, potentially important mixed symbolic history is involved.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
In a patriarchal society, these traits carry symbolic weight.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025
The authors of The First Idea, Stanley Greenspan, M.D., and philosopher psychologist Stuart Shanker, go so far as to say that language and symbolic thought cannot be explained at all by genetics or natural selection.
—Madeleine Beekman
august 11, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for symbolic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for symbolic
representative
Adjective
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That survey of 3,300 farmers included participants reached through various organizations, and the findings may not be representative of farming as a whole.—
Nara Schoenberg,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Aug. 2025
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Polling was conducted online and segmented by gender, region, political affiliation, age, and race to ensure a representative sample.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Symbolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/symbolic. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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