tropical

adjective

ˈträ-pi-kəl How to pronounce tropical (audio)
Definition of tropicalnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in metaphoric
expressing one thing in terms normally used for another an author given to high-flown tropical phrasings and convoluted symbology

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 tropical And just last week, decaying Tropical Storm Iselle left plenty of tropical moisture to rain across Central California. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 1 Sep. 2026 This luxury jungle resort in Phuket has a special focus on wellness with a tropical spa, healthy cuisine, and eco-friendly operations. — Jasreen Mayal Khanna, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026 Look for deep vegetal, tropical fruit, and grass notes, and definitely use this in a Ti’ Punch, one of Martinique’s signature cocktails. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 1 Sep. 2026 The system strengthened into a tropical depression, and was named Tropical Storm Edouard. — Miami Herald Hurricane Bot, Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tropical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tropical
  1. subtropical
  2. metaphoric
  3. equatorial
  4. figurative
  5. figural
  6. symbolic
Adjective
  • Influenced by Barcelona legend Antoni Gaudí and American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Treister’s work in Miami blended modern architecture with art, sculpture and the lush subtropical South Florida landscape.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Cyclospora has historically been found in subtropical climates, so for a long time, infections from food grown inside the United States were unheard of.
    — Dylan Scott, Vox, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of subtropical
Adjective
  • 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
Definition of metaphoric
Adjective
  • El Niño events are characterized by hotter than average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial tropical Pacific Ocean, along with corresponding shifts in the atmospheric circulation throughout that region.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Temperatures have warmed dramatically across the equatorial Pacific Ocean in 2026, signaling the onset of a strong and potentially historic El Niño.
    — Julia Cole, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of equatorial
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

tropic
tropical
tropological
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Cite this Entry

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

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