metaphorical

[ met-uh-fawr-i-kuhl, -for- ]

/ ˌmɛt əˈfɔr ɪ kəl, -ˈfɒr- /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for metaphorical on Thesaurus.com

Definition of metaphorical

adjective

involving, invoking, or intended to be taken as a metaphor, something used symbolically to represent something else, suggesting a comparison or resemblance: Our foreign policy blunder has given the insurgents a metaphorical green light to engage in violent tactics in pursuit of their imperial ambitions.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Also met·a·phor·ic

[met-uh-fawr-ik, -for-] /ˌmɛt əˈfɔr ɪk, -ˈfɒr-/ .

OTHER WORDS FROM metaphorical

met·a·phor·i·cal·ly, adverbmet·a·phor·i·cal·ness, nounhy·per·met·a·phor·ic, hy·per·met·a·phor·i·cal, adjectivenon·met·a·phor·ic, non·met·a·phor·i·cal, adjective

sem·i·met·a·phor·ic, sem·i·met·a·phor·i·cal, adjectivesub·met·a·phor·ic, sub·met·a·phor·i·cal, adjective

Words nearby metaphorical

metaph., metaphase, metaphase plate, Metaphen, metaphor, metaphorical, metaphorically, metaphosphate, metaphosphoric acid, metaphrase, metaphrast

How to use metaphorical in a sentence

The digital dashboard draws on metaphorical relationships to vehicular, military and executive dashboards.
Covid-19 dashboards are vital, yet flawed, sources of public information|Jacqueline Wernimont|January 26, 2021|Washington Post
Older generations know what a great team looks like and the younger ones are finding out, but the only embrace of this great team can be metaphorical.
‘Bills Mafia’ waited a generation for a team like this. It’s had to embrace it from afar.|Adam Kilgore|January 7, 2021|Washington Post
The true truth is always metaphorical, Barry once told a friend, and his greatest belief was in the power of stories, and these seem to be the paths to follow here.
Remembering My Friend Barry Lopez|Bob Shacochis|January 5, 2021|Outside Online
As mathematical physics fed Pauli’s visions, which Jung connected with ancient symbolism, the two thinkers ended up weaving profound metaphorical connections between the two realms.
The Synchronicity of Wolfgang Pauli and Carl Jung - Issue 93: Forerunners|Paul Halpern|November 18, 2020|Nautilus

In the typical retail horror story, Amazon lurks behind the door wielding the metaphorical chainsaw.
PetSmart and Chewy are splitting three years after their tie-up|Lucinda Shen|October 23, 2020|Fortune
The metaphorical closet door has been opened, proving just how rapidly the sport is growing and changing with the times.
Miami’s Chris Bosh Goes High Fashion|Justin Jones|August 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I chose it for its metaphorical resonance, but the mosquito bite theory might be the worse.
Ron Rosenbaum on Hitler, Hollywood, and Quantifying Evil|William O’Connor|July 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Time passed, and periodically a scholarly blog would raise a metaphorical eyebrow about the lack of test results.
The ‘Gospel of Jesus’s Wife’ is Still as Big a Mystery as Ever|Candida Moss|April 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Disclosure: This is where things become all about insects, and very metaphorical.
Seriously Gwyneth? WTF Is ‘Conscious Uncoupling’?|Tim Teeman|March 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Inevitably, any anger and resentment we feel is contained within some kind of metaphorical exoskeleton.
Seriously Gwyneth? WTF Is ‘Conscious Uncoupling’?|Tim Teeman|March 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The great use of metaphorical language is to convey, or to aggravate the impression or sentiment which an object creates.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 67, Number 414, April, 1850|Various
In the use of metaphorical language, we are not disposed to lay down any strict canons of criticism.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 67, Number 414, April, 1850|Various
We hope we shall not be accused of putting fetters upon genius, by refusing to admire this use of metaphorical language.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 67, Number 414, April, 1850|Various
We always find that those are the greatest slaves to metaphorical language, who have but one set of metaphors.
A System of Logic: Ratiocinative and Inductive|John Stuart Mill
Whether he regards the divine Justice, for instance, as a metaphorical term, a mere figure of speech?
Aids to Reflection|Samuel Taylor Coleridge