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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of metaphor
As Lavery mentions in her aforementioned 2020 essay, the metaphor also makes reference to the idea that the trans person, before realizing their identity, is merely a shell.
—
Evelyn Bauer, Them, 5 Dec. 2024
In a speech Monday, Fed governor Christopher Waller delivered the vivid monetary policy metaphor of the month, comparing the more than two-year battle against inflation to the tiring sparring in a mixed martial arts cage.
—Courtenay Brown, Axios, 3 Dec. 2024
That provides a cautionary metaphor for investing too much in the pop culture past.
—Bob Strauss, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
Both stories could serve as metaphors for the beguiling, febrile experience of reading Murakami’s best fiction.
—Randy Boyagoda, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for metaphor 
Evelyn Bauer, Them, 5 Dec. 2024
In a speech Monday, Fed governor Christopher Waller delivered the vivid monetary policy metaphor of the month, comparing the more than two-year battle against inflation to the tiring sparring in a mixed martial arts cage.
—Courtenay Brown, Axios, 3 Dec. 2024
That provides a cautionary metaphor for investing too much in the pop culture past.
—Bob Strauss, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
Both stories could serve as metaphors for the beguiling, febrile experience of reading Murakami’s best fiction.
—Randy Boyagoda, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for metaphor
Video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs
Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes
Thesaurus Entries Near metaphor
Cite this Entry
“Metaphor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/metaphor. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share