metaphorical

American  

[met-uh-fawr-i-kuhl, -for-] / ˌmɛt əˈfɔr ɪ kəl, -ˈfɒr- /

Also metaphoric

adjective

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

• metaphoricalness
  noun
• hypermetaphoric
  adjective
• hypermetaphorical
  adjective
• nonmetaphoric
  adjective
• nonmetaphorical
  adjective
• semimetaphoric
  adjective
• semimetaphorical
  adjective
• submetaphoric
  adjective
• submetaphorical
  adjective
• metaphorically
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of metaphorical

First recorded in 1560–70; metaphor ( def. ) + -ical ( def. )

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Explanation

Something is metaphorical when you use it to stand for, or symbolize, another thing. For example, a dark sky in a poem might be a metaphorical representation of sadness. You'll find yourself using the adjective metaphorical all the time if you take a poetry class; poems are usually full of metaphors. People use metaphorical language in everyday speech too, like when you say something like, "My brain is foggy today." Metaphorical comes from the Greek word meaning "a transfer," metaphora, which is itself made up of meta, "over," and pherein, "to carry."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

metaphorical

There’s a bit of a stakes problem here, but everything that happens in this imagination world is metaphorical, of course, in service of Gabby’s thunderous revelation that her mother was once a creative person too.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

And while it’s good to replace that metaphorical candy with something healthier, we cannot flog ourselves into not needing something sweet to survive the bitter world we live in.

From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026

In T20s, his average jumps 19 runs when wearing the metaphorical armband.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

The book, which offers strategies for navigating the metaphorical mouse maze, is really an ode to adaptability.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

A ritual that seeks to feed my mind and would starve my somewhat metaphorical soul.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez

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Related Words

• allegorical
• descriptive
• metaphoric
• symbolic

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