phallic

adjective

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phal·lic | \ ˈfa-lik

Definition of phallic

1 : of or relating to phallicism a phallic cult

2 : of, relating to, or resembling a phallus

3 : relating to or being the stage of psychosexual development in psychoanalytic theory that follows the anal stage and during which a child becomes interested in his or her own sexual organs

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Examples of phallic in a Sentence

The poem is filled with phallic imagery. an ancient Greek phallic symbol representing fertility

Recent Examples on the Web Notably, none of the planet's female billionaires are currently trying to launch themselves into space in overtly phallic vessels. — Jeva Lange, The Week, 20 July 2021 Here, phallic forms grow like weeds, toppling over each other, handicapped by their abundance. — Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2022 The duo dance in a rain of flower petals before the shot cuts to a phallic crystal embedded in a jewelry box, bringing the video to an abrupt ending. — Jude Zhu, Billboard, 30 Mar. 2022 It’s this beautiful phoenix that came back out of the phallic ashes. — Mikey O'connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2022 The group created the Vulva Spaceship concept to challenge the convention of, ahem, phallic spacecraft design. — Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 11 Mar. 2022 Iconic photos of Kurt Cobain, Charlotte Rampling, Kate Moss, et al., sit side by side with almost human-seeming frogs (a recurring motif) and invariably phallic still lifes. — New York Times, 25 Nov. 2021 The pilot opens with Temuera Morrison’s Boba Fett in a healing chamber experiencing flashbacks or dreams tied to the aftermath of what appeared to be his Return of the Jedi death in the gaping maw and phallic tentacles of the sarlacc. — Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Dec. 2021 Clean energy research, sustainable transportation innovations, waste management solutions, and the creation of high-paying jobs in green sectors would do far more for the average non-billionaire than a phallic rocketship ever will. — Jeva Lange, The Week, 15 Sep. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'phallic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near phallic

Phallales

phallic

phallicism

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Last Updated

5 May 2022

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“Phallic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phallic. Accessed 21 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for phallic

phallic

adjective

phal·lic | \ ˈfal-ik

Medical Definition of phallic

1 : of, relating to, or resembling a penis

2 : of, relating to, or characterized by the stage of psychosexual development in psychoanalytic theory following the anal stage and during which a child becomes interested in his or her own sexual organs — compare anal sense 2, genital sense 3, oral sense 3