1
as in subtropical
being near the equator
wanted to escape winter and visit some tropical location where freezing to death would not be a possibility
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in metaphorical
expressing one thing in terms normally used for another
an author given to high-flown tropical phrasings and convoluted symbology
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tropical
Eat a diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, fish, nuts, and non-tropical vegetable oils.
—
Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025
Fortunately, there is one way to get that tropical feeling without ever stepping on a plane.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
The National Hurricane Center is also pinpointing two other areas for potential tropical development this week.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2025
The rapid population decline of the species, which is native to the tropical lowlands of Southeast Asia, is due to poaching, pet trade and deforestation.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tropical
Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025
Fortunately, there is one way to get that tropical feeling without ever stepping on a plane.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
The National Hurricane Center is also pinpointing two other areas for potential tropical development this week.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2025
The rapid population decline of the species, which is native to the tropical lowlands of Southeast Asia, is due to poaching, pet trade and deforestation.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tropical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tropical
Adjective
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By contrast, the plants pollinated by animals were related to subtropical palms, silk-cotton trees and other plants that typically grow in dry tropical climates.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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Sand tiger sharks are a large, slow-moving shark species found in temperate and subtropical waters around the world, including the eastern United States, South Africa, and Australia.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Another factor is the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO), a 24–28-month cycle in which equatorial winds shift east to west.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
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From the rainforests of Central and South America to the savannas of northern Australia, the world’s equatorial regions are home to thousands of unique bird species, from macaws to toucans to hummingbirds, who thrive in hot and humid environments.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The process of securing the proper locations for a project is a metaphorical game of 3D chess in which the artistic vision of its creative team wages a strategic battle with logistical necessities and economic realities.—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
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In addition to his trio of Primetime Emmys, Obama's already substantial metaphorical trophy shelf includes two Children's and Family Emmy gongs, two Grammy awards, and a Nobel Peace Prize.—
Daniel Orton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Taking inspiration from 16th-century outdoor sculpture courtyards, this (indoor) exhibition explores the range of figurative human sculptures in the Walker’s collection.—
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
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An English translation of the French story that was first published in 2023, the 208-page tome tells the story of the many obstacles and near-figurative deaths Lucas had to overcome in order to make what would become one of the most consequential movies in pop culture history.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The figural birds are crafted in platinum and 18-karat gold with gemstones — appearing to perch upon the wearer.—
Thomas Waller,
Footwear News,
2 Sep. 2025
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As we are never returned to any figural baseline, our eyes are increasingly ungrounded.—
Jan Tumlir,
Artforum,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The symbolic weight of the Golden Lion matters, not just to the artists but to the entire field.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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The ruling landed as a symbolic rebuke of Musk’s sway over Tesla, and a warning about the excesses of Silicon Valley’s cult-of-founder ethos.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tropical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tropical. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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