1
as in emblems
a device, design, or figure used as an identifying mark
the traditional physician's symbol of a staff entwined with a snake
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in signs
a written or printed mark that is meant to convey information to the reader
the symbol ¶ indicates where a new paragraph should begin symbols such as emoji that are used in texts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of symbols
Nick Lentz, CBS News, 6 June 2026
Over the past year, two biographers have attempted to flesh out the men behind the symbols.
—Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
Through a licensing partnership handled by IMG Licensing, Alex and Ani is turning characters, symbols and settings from Prythian into a line of collectible jewelry.
—Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 4 June 2026
On May 29, Bee reporters made a handful of suggestions for names based on historical sports references and other symbols of Sacramento and California for readers to choose from.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026
Their harsh geometric forms are sometimes punctuated by recognizable symbols like crosses and hearts, while others are made entirely of abstract twisting, circular, and diagonal forms.
—Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 3 June 2026
As the second term has progressed, the theatrical symbols of his dominance have grown more ambitious, more personal.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 3 June 2026
Commercial country music, a format of songwriting that is at least somewhat reliant on wordplay and the constant re-arranging of a familiar set of symbols (trucks, mud, whiskey, and so forth), can be particularly susceptible to the accusations.
—Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2026
Key club symbols, including the iconic cannon, are incorporated throughout.
—Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026
Noun
Police are investigating after the Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was vandalized with antisemitic symbols, officials said on Saturday morning.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 6 June 2026
Over the past year, two biographers have attempted to flesh out the men behind the symbols.
—Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
Through a licensing partnership handled by IMG Licensing, Alex and Ani is turning characters, symbols and settings from Prythian into a line of collectible jewelry.
—Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 4 June 2026
On May 29, Bee reporters made a handful of suggestions for names based on historical sports references and other symbols of Sacramento and California for readers to choose from.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026
Their harsh geometric forms are sometimes punctuated by recognizable symbols like crosses and hearts, while others are made entirely of abstract twisting, circular, and diagonal forms.
—Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 3 June 2026
As the second term has progressed, the theatrical symbols of his dominance have grown more ambitious, more personal.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 3 June 2026
Commercial country music, a format of songwriting that is at least somewhat reliant on wordplay and the constant re-arranging of a familiar set of symbols (trucks, mud, whiskey, and so forth), can be particularly susceptible to the accusations.
—Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2026
Key club symbols, including the iconic cannon, are incorporated throughout.
—Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for symbols
Noun
-
Kara Jakubik, a 17-year-old Life Scout with Scouting America and an Ambassador with Girl Scouts, spent the morning with other volunteers walking through rows of headstones searching for symbols, such as military branch emblems.—
Abigail Dollins,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 May 2026
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Others have opted to place banners in the stands or sponsor emblems on seatbacks.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
But there are signs of real life going on too, which is always a good thing.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Using a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer, for example, the spectral biosignatures of carbon dioxide and methane may overlap, leading to the gasses being confused with each other and signs of life being dismissed or lost.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The flag's black stripe symbolizes asexuality.—
Nicole Harris,
Parents,
2 June 2026
-
The Velvet Underground’s John Cale represents music, Marc Jacobs stands for fashion and beloved director Martin Scorsese symbolizes film.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Noun
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Interest in the author’s life can curdle into obsession, as in Henry James’s The Aspern Papers, in which the narrator embraces any deception necessary to acquire the letters of a dead poet.—
Walt Hunter,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
-
Tap the letters or the up and down carat on the display line.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Verb
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And with the Dolphins rebuilding, logic hints that the player with upside will eventually be favored.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2026
-
The small amount of data also hints that the drug is effective.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
The courts have already affirmed that sounds can function as trademarks.—
Daryl Lim,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
-
While technology will be the centerpiece, the facility — tentatively named the Connecticut Center for Applied AI — won’t have enormous banks of computer servers or the high-capacity energy and cooling systems that are trademarks of data centers.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
This year, the 25th installment that runs June 3-14 throughout New York City, boasts a tremendous music slate with icons including Madonna, Earth, Wind & Fire and Peter Frampton premiering music films.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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For Authentic, icons like Monroe, Presley and Ali are IP unicorns – the kind of celebrities that transcend borders and generations.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The food distribution center represents an investment of more than $300 million, a significant chunk of the $5 billion in capital spending Target plans to make this year.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
This time, however, the military action represents something new.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Symbols.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/symbols. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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