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
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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
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Recent Examples of tropical
Last year, a record-breaking number of tourists—7,486,000 to be exact—visited Puerto Rico’s tropical shores.
—
Alan Chazaro, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
In these 2-foot-square pictures, long-haired nude female figures in close Edenic companionship with wild beasts poke their heads out from behind lush tropical foliage, and stare, unsettlingly, straight outward.
—Benjamin Lima, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
Another supposedly shows the same group of people, minus Nair, in what appears to be a tropical setting.
—CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Whether massing in borders or planting stand-alone specimens, this gorgeous holly can be grown throughout the South, with the exception of tropical regions.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tropical
Alan Chazaro, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
In these 2-foot-square pictures, long-haired nude female figures in close Edenic companionship with wild beasts poke their heads out from behind lush tropical foliage, and stare, unsettlingly, straight outward.
—Benjamin Lima, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
Another supposedly shows the same group of people, minus Nair, in what appears to be a tropical setting.
—CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Whether massing in borders or planting stand-alone specimens, this gorgeous holly can be grown throughout the South, with the exception of tropical regions.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tropical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tropical
Adjective
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Those snakes went on to reproduce and thrive in South Florida’s subtropical climate, decimating some ecosystems.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Jan. 2026
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Indiana found itself in the middle of a winter storm this weekend that spanned from Texas to New England thanks to an Arctic airmass from the north that met up with a wet, subtropical flow from the south.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But Bad Bunny also pulled a few other tricks out of his metaphorical hat for the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
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Putting, say, ceramist Magdalene Odundo on the same metaphorical pedestal as artist Huma Bhabha is another.—
Julie Belcove,
Robb Report,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Most of them gravitated to Minnesota — a very different climate from their equatorial homeland, but a state with a great tradition of tolerance for newcomers.—
Robert W. Laird,
New York Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
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In other words, Jupiter is flatter at its poles than at its equator, the result of its fast rotation (just under 10 hours) creating an equatorial bulge.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The smaller, figurative collages are somewhat easier to grasp at first glance.—
Benjamin Lima
Special Contributor,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Feb. 2026
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Valentine’s Day, a holiday that fills hearts with figurative longing and passion — and literal foodstuffs, like chocolate.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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However, giving in to January’s grayness — both literal and figural — is not the only option.—
Morayo Ogunbayo,
AJC.com,
1 Jan. 2026
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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
Adjective
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In this case, that ball happens to be the complex that serves as the symbolic seat of the nation’s vibrant, messy, questioning, deeply political and hugely alive arts and culture scene.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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While the raw metal value of Olympic medals is small compared with the millions of dollars athletes invest in training, their collective and symbolic value often far exceeds their material worth.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tropical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tropical. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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