as in metaphoric
expressing one thing in terms normally used for another
the figurative use of "allergy" to mean "a feeling of dislike"
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Recent Examples of figurative
The split was messy and ugly, with figurative and literal shots fired, some of which left bullet holes in Sermon’s house while Redman still lived there.
—
Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 8 Mar. 2026
Harrison Bader put a figurative dent into a baseball.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
Literal and figurative pain points included ensuring each piece properly conducting electricity, rigging every square with mechanical keyboard switches to facilitate the connections, and countless unintentional jolts.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Feb. 2026
Luxury compact sedans are even more ideal, a car with many of the features of an S-Class but without the weight, both literal and figurative.
—Kyle Hyatt, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for figurative
Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 8 Mar. 2026
Harrison Bader put a figurative dent into a baseball.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
Literal and figurative pain points included ensuring each piece properly conducting electricity, rigging every square with mechanical keyboard switches to facilitate the connections, and countless unintentional jolts.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Feb. 2026
Luxury compact sedans are even more ideal, a car with many of the features of an S-Class but without the weight, both literal and figurative.
—Kyle Hyatt, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for figurative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for figurative
Adjective
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But the Passover Seder also commences the 50-day historical journey to Mount Sinai, the metaphorical site where the Jewish people received the Torah, the laws and traditions that gave shape to their journey, their culture and societal structure.—
Michael Pfleger,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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In the first half, the house is haunted in a metaphorical sense.—
William Earl,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The number distilled the North Beach revue (which closed New Year’s Eve 2019) famous for its oversized figural hats, musical parodies and fairy-tale characters into 11.5 minutes.—
Culture Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
13 Mar. 2026
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The holders come in a set of two, adorned with figural bunnies.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Royal Maundy Service sees the sovereign distribute Maundy money, or special coins, to local pensioners (often retirees) in a service symbolic of Jesus washing the Apostles' feet at the last supper.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
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The invitation also ties directly to America 250 celebrations, with congressional leaders highlighting the symbolic weight of the moment.—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Figurative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/figurative. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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