metaphoric

adjective

variants or metaphorical
as in figurative
expressing one thing in terms normally used for another an author fond of such metaphorical phrases as "the desert was a fiery furnace"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 metaphoric Manuel spoke with Variety about how the film relates to the colonial past of the country, and the metaphorical symbolism of the golf course. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026 Lush layers of melody and instrumentation submerges the listener in both metaphoric thought and shifting moods. — Lina Lecaro, SPIN, 18 Aug. 2026 These forces could be imagined as two beings and, by metaphoric extension, as male and female. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 With the metaphorical jet fumes already swirling on Capitol Hill, some are at least threatening to potentially put their colleagues on the record for or against adjourning until September. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026 The monsters are mostly metaphorical in this book, but the middle school emotions are vividly real. — Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026 But the illicit art is only part of the operatic tale of the literal rise and metaphorical fall of what have become informally known as the graffiti towers. — Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026 What happens if the characters’ attempts to move past true love’s first kiss run into a metaphorical — or perhaps vaginal — brick wall? — Hayley Fleming, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026 Messi, though, was overcome with the emotion of having assisted on two lethal goals that put a metaphorical sword right through King Harry’s chest. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for metaphoric
  1. figurative
  2. figural
  3. symbolic
Adjective
  • Avery proved that figurative artists, in trying to represent the observable world, can be as free in their choices as any abstract painter.
    — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Susi Singer’s figurative candlestick has style and sass that owes at least partly to its earthenware origins, favored at the Werkstätte for its affordability over porcelain, but much less capable of refined shapes.
    — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of figurative
Adjective
  • From figural bakers to upgraded pans, the new collection takes fall baking to a whole other level.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Display of a walking staff with a figural head and wooden ladles reveal a history of carving among the cultures Lewis was raised in.
    — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of figural
Adjective
  • Grieving families were made visible, giving voice and shape to those who were lost, as people held symbolic burial rites or went on their own journeys to look for loved ones.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Mukunda Rijal said his cousins and their daughters had not been found, prompting the family to perform a symbolic funeral for them.
    — Shristi Kafle, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of symbolic

Browse Nearby Words

metaphor
metaphoric
metaphorically
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Metaphoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/metaphoric. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All