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
-
Samples weren’t nationally representative; most were convenience samples.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Aug. 2025
-
The sample was weighted to be representative of likely voters by age, gender, education, race, geography, and recalled presidential vote.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Symbolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/symbolic. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
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