as in historical
restricted to or based on fact
a literal account of the explorer's adventures is actually a lot less interesting than his own exaggerated stories
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Recent Examples of literal
Which is true, in a strictly literal sense.
—
Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Over time, its strictly literal use expanded into the figurative, referring to the enhancement of something by adding or increasing a particular quality or ingredient.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
Mainstream Egyptologists interpret the stele’s imagery symbolically, not as a literal map, and note the stele’s text does not explicitly mention a second Sphinx.
—Ryan Brennan
april 1, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
Online, however, many fans focused less on symbolism and more on the literal nature of the concept.
—Claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for literal
Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Over time, its strictly literal use expanded into the figurative, referring to the enhancement of something by adding or increasing a particular quality or ingredient.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
Mainstream Egyptologists interpret the stele’s imagery symbolically, not as a literal map, and note the stele’s text does not explicitly mention a second Sphinx.
—Ryan Brennan
april 1, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
Online, however, many fans focused less on symbolism and more on the literal nature of the concept.
—Claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for literal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literal
Adjective
-
Online and in podcasts, historical revisionism thrived.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Still, Platner will have to overcome historical precedent to beat Mills.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Jeff Pope’s latest BBC factual drama is about the tragic death of Sarah Everard, who was killed by a serving policeman in London in 2021.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The factual basis for broader perceptions of gay prosperity is mixed.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There was no true striker for England.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The Full Moon highlights your 4th House of Traditions, nudging you to think about what makes your residence a true home base.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Below, the biggest revelations from the documentary episode of the night that almost killed Odom.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
1 Apr. 2026
-
This unique documentary-comedy hybrid is executive produced by Jessica Alba and stars Keyla Monterroso Mejia (The Studio, Curb Your Enthusiasm).—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That delirious excess befits the essence of Lapid’s method, which is a fusion of fiction with indigestibly and irreducibly nonfictional elements.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The days at the fictional Oak Canyon Ranch Retreat in the nonfictional Agoura Hills are loaded with incident — the retreat itself is essentially sleepaway camp, including pool time, games, a cookout, a talent show — and disasters.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Video
Literally
A word that (literally) drives people nuts
Cite this Entry
“Literal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/literal. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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