symbolic
adjective
sym·bol·ic
sim-ˈbä-lik 
variants
or less commonly symbolical
2
: of, relating to, or constituting a symbol
3
: characterized by or terminating in symbols
symbolic thinking
4
: characterized by symbolism
a symbolic dance
Synonyms of symbolic
Examples of symbolic in a Sentence
The lighting of the candles is symbolic.
The sharing of the wine has symbolic meaning.
Recent Examples on the Web
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appeared publicly with his daughter, Ju Ae, during a New Year’s Day visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a highly symbolic site honoring the country’s founding leaders.
—
Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
São Paulo, the most populous city in the Americas, has become the symbolic epicenter of this housing struggle, if only for the cruel irony of having more vacant dwellings than unsheltered people.
—Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
The presidential pardon was symbolic because her conviction rested on state charges, not federal.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 31 Dec. 2025
Zohran Mamdani picked a decommissioned subway station beneath City Hall as the venue for his private swearing-in ceremony as New York City's new mayor — a symbolic choice for a candidate who rode to victory on pledges such as free public transit.
—Emma Bowman, NPR, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for symbolic
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Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
São Paulo, the most populous city in the Americas, has become the symbolic epicenter of this housing struggle, if only for the cruel irony of having more vacant dwellings than unsheltered people.
—Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
The presidential pardon was symbolic because her conviction rested on state charges, not federal.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 31 Dec. 2025
Zohran Mamdani picked a decommissioned subway station beneath City Hall as the venue for his private swearing-in ceremony as New York City's new mayor — a symbolic choice for a candidate who rode to victory on pledges such as free public transit.
—Emma Bowman, NPR, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for symbolic
Cite this Entry
“Symbolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/symbolic. Accessed 4 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
symbolic
adjective
sym·bol·ic
sim-ˈbäl-ik
variants
also symbolical
1
: of, relating to, or using symbols or symbolism
a symbolic meaning
symbolic art
2
: having the function or meaning of a symbol
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