as in metaphorical
expressing one thing in terms normally used for another a tropological construct that no reader of the text should take literally

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tropological
Adjective
  • Left field has been a figurative black hole for the Braves, with four players combining to produce a .213 average with just two home runs, a .281 slugging percentage that ranks 29th in the majors at the position and a .547 OPS that’s 28th.
    David O'Brien, New York Times, 14 June 2025
  • Among the players connected to the disappearance are a wide and varied cast of Austin characters: an up-and-coming boxer who crossed the border from Mexico under strange circumstances, a rookie cop determined to crack the case, a grifter clown (figurative and literal).
    Lucas Schaefer June 13, Literary Hub, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • The company dates back to the late 1930s and is known for its sweet candles in figural shapes such as Santas, snowmen, and carolers.
    Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2024
  • The company dates back to the late 1930s and is known for its sweet candles in figural shapes such as Santas, snowmen, and carolers.
    Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Many experts say no — despite the opposition’s vow to file a complaint with the Organization of American States, a move that may be more symbolic than substantial.
    Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
  • This delay means that younger Gen Xers and Millennials, who may have already navigated significant financial milestones—like buying a home or sending kids to college—without that anticipated boost, may find inheritances to be more symbolic than transformative.
    Joseph Coughlin, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tropological.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tropological. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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!