1
as in subtropical
being near the equator
wanted to escape winter and visit some tropical location where freezing to death would not be a possibility
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in metaphorical
expressing one thing in terms normally used for another
an author given to high-flown tropical phrasings and convoluted symbology
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tropical
One of the most notable discrepancies takes place in the tropical Pacific Ocean, which stretches from Indonesia to Ecuador.
—
Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Then came a double-breasted Prince of Wales check linen suit (Solbiati) lined with a tropical jungle print, and then the green linen suit (also Caccioppoli).
—Eric Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025
Forecasters noted that dry, stable air is expected to hinder development in the coming days, although a tropical depression remains possible by midweek.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Along the narrow, two‑lane mountain road were slopes on either side, planted with rice or else wild with tropical flora and giant ferns.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tropical
Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Then came a double-breasted Prince of Wales check linen suit (Solbiati) lined with a tropical jungle print, and then the green linen suit (also Caccioppoli).
—Eric Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025
Forecasters noted that dry, stable air is expected to hinder development in the coming days, although a tropical depression remains possible by midweek.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Along the narrow, two‑lane mountain road were slopes on either side, planted with rice or else wild with tropical flora and giant ferns.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tropical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tropical
Adjective
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One critical ingredient often missing in Arizona’s summer months is the subtropical jet stream, a narrow band of strong winds about 6 miles above the ground.—
Arlyssa D. Becenti,
AZCentral.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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By contrast, the plants pollinated by animals were related to subtropical palms, silk-cotton trees and other plants that typically grow in dry tropical climates.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Another factor is the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO), a 24–28-month cycle in which equatorial winds shift east to west.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
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From the rainforests of Central and South America to the savannas of northern Australia, the world’s equatorial regions are home to thousands of unique bird species, from macaws to toucans to hummingbirds, who thrive in hot and humid environments.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The Parisians thrashed Inter Milan in May to claim the trophy for the first time and lift a huge metaphorical burden off their back.—
Dan Cancian,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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The state in which those complexities played out — the course of the metaphorical river — had shifted.—
Joseph Howlett,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Hush was met with generally favorable reviews at the time of its release, and employs similar stakes (both literal and figurative) as seen in Scream.—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
PEOPLE,
13 Sep. 2025
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Taking inspiration from 16th-century outdoor sculpture courtyards, this (indoor) exhibition explores the range of figurative human sculptures in the Walker’s collection.—
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The figural birds are crafted in platinum and 18-karat gold with gemstones — appearing to perch upon the wearer.—
Thomas Waller,
Footwear News,
2 Sep. 2025
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As we are never returned to any figural baseline, our eyes are increasingly ungrounded.—
Jan Tumlir,
Artforum,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Then, as with West Germany’s previous World Cup triumph, there was a symbolic defeat.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
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The milestone marks a symbolic win for the blue-chip index, highlighting the market’s resilience despite tariff concerns and signs of weakness in the economy.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tropical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tropical. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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