as in metaphorical
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
Staub Cast-Iron Wide Oval Cocotte $350 $230 Food52 The only thing more covetable than a regular Staub cocotte is a black cast-iron one (which is extremely metal, in a literal and figurative sense).
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Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 29 Nov. 2024
Gina tells Tamra she was hurt when Tamra tried to throw her under a figurative red double-decker bus in London, collateral damage in Tamra’s current feud with Shannon.
—Peter Larsen, Orange County Register, 1 Nov. 2024
One room, for instance, features unlikely figurative works by the two, Gierowski in his early career, Scully in his later artworks—the former’s early works read as studies for the latter’s.
—Nargess Banks, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Her previous works as a sculptor feature mostly figurative pieces, especially cheerful ones of animals in motion.
—Canaan Lidor, Sun Sentinel, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for figurative 
Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 29 Nov. 2024
Gina tells Tamra she was hurt when Tamra tried to throw her under a figurative red double-decker bus in London, collateral damage in Tamra’s current feud with Shannon.
—Peter Larsen, Orange County Register, 1 Nov. 2024
One room, for instance, features unlikely figurative works by the two, Gierowski in his early career, Scully in his later artworks—the former’s early works read as studies for the latter’s.
—Nargess Banks, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Her previous works as a sculptor feature mostly figurative pieces, especially cheerful ones of animals in motion.
—Canaan Lidor, Sun Sentinel, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for figurative
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Cite this Entry
“Figurative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/figurative. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.
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