as in analogy
an elaborate or fanciful way of expressing something
"it's raining cats and dogs" is just a colorful metaphor and not a meteorological announcement
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Recent Examples of metaphor
There’s never only one right metaphor to talk about a new technology, Weinstein says.
—
Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 18 Mar. 2025
During a legislative hearing in Utah, Sharon Anderson, a conservative opponent of a convention, used a metaphor to criticize the counting method.
—Phoebe Petrovic, ProPublica, 17 Mar. 2025
The event brought in $30 million, but that was quickly overshadowed by footage of Obama gingerly leading Biden off the stage — which soon became an apt metaphor for the 2024 campaign.
—W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Mar. 2025
Guinea fowl, small birds that can take down predators while working in groups, become an apt metaphor for the way the women bond together, as well as a haunting visual motif.
—Esther Zuckerman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for metaphor
Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 18 Mar. 2025
During a legislative hearing in Utah, Sharon Anderson, a conservative opponent of a convention, used a metaphor to criticize the counting method.
—Phoebe Petrovic, ProPublica, 17 Mar. 2025
The event brought in $30 million, but that was quickly overshadowed by footage of Obama gingerly leading Biden off the stage — which soon became an apt metaphor for the 2024 campaign.
—W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Mar. 2025
Guinea fowl, small birds that can take down predators while working in groups, become an apt metaphor for the way the women bond together, as well as a haunting visual motif.
—Esther Zuckerman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for metaphor
Video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs
Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes
Cite this Entry
“Metaphor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/metaphor. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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