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
The house was also featured in the actress' Emilia Pérez press tour wardrobe in the form of a sleeveless long black dress with a literal keyhole cutout.
—
Michelle Lee, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, owners have spent literal billions trying to find the right ones.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2025
Operating like the best live-action Looney Tunes movie that never was, Hundreds of Beavers is essentially a series of increasingly zany gags in which fur trapper fend off literal hordes of beavers.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
Black’s thermal photography shows us, in a literal sense, the rising heat signature of our presence on public lands across the West.
—James Pogue, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for literal
Michelle Lee, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, owners have spent literal billions trying to find the right ones.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2025
Operating like the best live-action Looney Tunes movie that never was, Hundreds of Beavers is essentially a series of increasingly zany gags in which fur trapper fend off literal hordes of beavers.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
Black’s thermal photography shows us, in a literal sense, the rising heat signature of our presence on public lands across the West.
—James Pogue, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for literal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literal
Adjective
-
And with good reason: His performance as a Jewish Hungarian architect lost in postwar America seemed to embody a whole historical era.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
2 Mar. 2025
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The beadwork and design features of each suit are intentionally placed to convey a unique visual story that reflects a common historical thread.—
Martie Bowser,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Although the administration insists this will not be the case, there is no factual reason to believe that narrative as these cut moves are not about efficiency, safety or functionality.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
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According to a factual proffer reflecting the prosecution’s case, the two unnamed U.S. soldiers were hanging out at the Colombian Pub, a sports bar in the upscale Zona T area, at about 11 p.m. on March 5, 2020.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
This becomes even more true if a recession does result.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
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And even if that stuff weren’t true, there are already plenty of budget-friendly retailers who serve the consumer audience that wants that look, like Zara, COS, H&M, and literally countless others.—
Aamina Inayat Khan,
StyleCaster,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
This documentary film by director Errol Morris takes the viewer back in time to August 1969, when Charles Manson’s followers killed seven people on his orders.—
Dana Feldman,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Apple Original Films has completed production on Bono: Stories of Surrender, a documentary film about the making of the U2 singer and songwriter.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
26 Feb. 2025
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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 12 Mar. 2025.
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