Thesaurus results for SYMBOLS

symbols 1 of 2

noun

plural of symbol

as in emblems

a device, design, or figure used as an identifying mark the traditional physician's symbol of a staff entwined with a snake

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as in signs

a written or printed mark that is meant to convey information to the reader the symbol ¶ indicates where a new paragraph should begin symbols such as emoji that are used in texts

Synonyms & Similar Words

symbols

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of symbol

as in symbolizes

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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 symbols

Noun

The sculpture depicts a female figure, her cloak billowing out in the shape of a seed around her and etched with more than 300 global symbols of peace, holding olive branches and surrounded by six children, each representing a continent. — Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026 Abdeen guessed that they were drawn to the familiar symbols that the Masons borrowed from what the French had dubbed the Orient, such as the tarboosh, a brimless and tasselled hat. — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026 The mural includes symbols from the periodic table of elements, and representations of Sir Isaac Newton, scientific equations and evolution — from fish to four-legged mammals to a man carrying a briefcase. — Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 Baydon tells me that Kalinga tattoos combine patterns and symbols to represent the natural and spiritual worlds. — Marisol Delarosa, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026 They may be chosen as symbols of a system someone holds responsible. — Control Risks, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 As her work developed in the ’70s and ’80s, Heilmann began transforming personal references like music, waves, California highways, and other symbols into more simple visual forms like circles, squares, and stripes. — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 15 Aug. 2026 That question circulated across the United States six years ago as the country reckoned with racial injustice in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd, including who is represented by, or excluded from, our public symbols. — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026 Yet historical symbols often outlive the contexts in which they were created, and the American alligator bears the imprint of a long racial history. — The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for symbols

Noun

The moment taps a broader wartime tradition in Ukraine, where heroic dogs, cats and rescuers become national emblems — and American gestures of solidarity carry growing political weight.

— Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Passengers board meticulously restored Gran Confort carriages, which date back to the 1970s and are emblems of Modern Italian design, with velvet-upholstered seats and panoramic windows.

— Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of emblems

Noun

Few signs of humanity interrupted the rocky shoreline — just a couple of cabins and the wooden railings of a path leading to a wizened cedar tree revered by the tribe.

— Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Dugger was the main talking point in defensive coordinator Raheem Morris’ press conference Saturday, because all signs are pointing to Dugger having a key role in the defense.

— Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of signs

Verb

Skenes’ recent inconsistency symbolizes a larger step back by the Pittsburgh rotation since the All-Star break, with Jared Jones and Mitch Keller also struggling, pushing the Bucs to the fringe of the playoff race.

— Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
The hearing took place before a packed courtroom at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, as Golden’s supporters wore purple, a color that symbolizes survivors of domestic violence.

— Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of symbolizes

Verb

One of the photos released shows the pair of friends-turned-secret-lovers in bed together, while another shot of them facing each other in a bathroom hints that there’s tension lingering.

— Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026
Research hints that this precipitous drop in estrogen may affect how our brains age.

— Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of hints

Noun

Those compounds are hallmarks of cacao, but they’re also found in yaupon holly, which grows all over the eastern US.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026
Best of all, a day will come, finally, when the moon is no longer the lone holder of such hallmarks of humanity.

— Mike Brown, Scientific American, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of hallmarks

Noun

In years past, Farel and his team from Farel Salon & Spa have hosted tennis icons including Coco Gauff, Iga Świątek, Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, Patrick McEnroe, Chris Evert, Billie Jean King and more.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
Two beloved entertainment icons, born just three months apart in 1946, died at the same age on the same day.

— Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026