literal-minded

adjective

: understanding words and statements only in the most basic and ordinary way and not having much imagination

Examples of literal-minded in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
This new Ghostbusters movie is literal-minded enough to slap it atop a tale of an ancient ice demon threatening to destroy the planet. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 22 Mar. 2024 Because literal-minded people don’t understand metaphor, irony or comic exaggeration. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 May 2024 But the largely literal-minded art lovers of the time could not focus on anything except that the sculpture didn’t precisely resemble Balzac. Victor Mather, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024 But Love Me, despite having two incredibly expressive actors at its center, remains furiously literal-minded in its questioning. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2024 Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Getty Images Photo: Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art For the more literal-minded attendees, why not be on the nose about it in a true sleeping beauty? José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 10 Nov. 2023 Cancel culture tends to make people less broad in their thinking, more literal-minded. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Oct. 2023 But even a seemingly casual question like that can trip up a literal-minded candidate who is trying to give honest answers. Karla L. Miller, Washington Post, 12 Oct. 2023 There’s something of the children’s book character Amelia Bedelia about Selin, who is similarly literal-minded. Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 12 Apr. 2022

Dictionary Entries Near literal-minded

Cite this Entry

“Literal-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literal-minded. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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