tropical

adjective

ˈträ-pi-kəl How to pronounce tropical (audio)
Definition of tropicalnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in metaphoric
expressing one thing in terms normally used for another an author given to high-flown tropical phrasings and convoluted symbology

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 tropical Peace lily The peace lily may be one of the most common flowering houseplants around, but this tranquil botanical with tropical origins is anything but boring. — Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 22 July 2026 Fermented dry and finished with a touch of tropical sweetness, each sip delivers fruit-forward taste. — Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 21 July 2026 Phu Quoc, Vietnam Phu Quoc has emerged as Vietnam’s luxury island destination, combining tropical beaches, protected forests, and a growing portfolio of private villas and upscale resorts. — Paula Conway, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 As the end of summer approaches, tropical and classic French manicures can be made edgier with a high-shine finish. — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tropical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tropical
  1. subtropical
  2. metaphoric
  3. equatorial
  4. figurative
  5. figural
  6. symbolic
Adjective
  • The parasite is commonly found in tropical or subtropical countries and spread by food or water contaminated with feces.
    — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
  • Georgia’s Okefenokee, meanwhile, sits in the subtropical climate band, where peat deposits are more scarce — and where most that do remain have been altered by humans.
    — Drew Kann, AJC.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of subtropical
Adjective
  • What happens if the characters’ attempts to move past true love’s first kiss run into a metaphorical — or perhaps vaginal — brick wall?
    — Hayley Fleming, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026
  • Messi, though, was overcome with the emotion of having assisted on two lethal goals that put a metaphorical sword right through King Harry’s chest.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
Definition of metaphoric
Adjective
  • El Nino is a periodic warming of water in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean that can affect global weather patterns for months, according to Paul Pastelok, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2026
  • El Niño is a natural climate pattern marked by warmer than average water temperatures in the equatorial Pacific and corresponding shifts in upper atmosphere weather patterns.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
Definition of equatorial
Adjective
  • The central theme was the figurative — and literal — significance of passing the ball, including asking audience members to ponder what their passing game is like and the ramifications of being a ball hog.
    — Vahe Gregorian July 10, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
  • These forms, or these masses that are part figurative, part abstract—that’s also how Jarvaise built his paintings.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of figurative
Adjective
  • The holders come in a set of two, adorned with figural bunnies.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Display of a walking staff with a figural head and wooden ladles reveal a history of carving among the cultures Lewis was raised in.
    — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of figural
Adjective
  • Beneath their monumental scale lies detailed engineering, with thousands of gears, mechanical elements and titanium components combining structural precision with symbolic imagery.
    — Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Begin at Chinggis Khaan Square, the symbolic heart of the city, before visiting the impressive Chinggis Khaan National Museum of Mongolia.
    — Undraa Buyannemekh, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2026
Definition of symbolic

Browse Nearby Words

tropic
tropical
tropological
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tropical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tropical. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on tropical

Nglish: Translation of tropical for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of parochial

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

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

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

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All