as in analogy
an elaborate or fanciful way of expressing something
"it's raining cats and dogs" is just a colorful metaphor and not a meteorological announcement
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Recent Examples of metaphor
Basketball references have been a large part of his music throughout his career — and this latest chapter proves Cole’s love for the game has never just been a metaphor.
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Ryan Brennan
april 3, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Screenwriter Will Tracy has said that the title could be read as a metaphor to suggest that new life might arise from the ashes of a corrupt entity.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
Their transformation through pickling—turning a simple, earthy root into a tangy, vibrant dish—was often seen as a metaphor for renewal and the endurance of the Jewish people through adversity.
—Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
In the work, the garden became both a physical space and a metaphor.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for metaphor
Ryan Brennan
april 3, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Screenwriter Will Tracy has said that the title could be read as a metaphor to suggest that new life might arise from the ashes of a corrupt entity.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
Their transformation through pickling—turning a simple, earthy root into a tangy, vibrant dish—was often seen as a metaphor for renewal and the endurance of the Jewish people through adversity.
—Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
In the work, the garden became both a physical space and a metaphor.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for metaphor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for metaphor
analogy
Noun
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Middle managers is another analogy that comes up often.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
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As Trump fumbles with the Pandora’s Box he’s broken open, there’s no shortage of historical analogies to choose from.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs
Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes
Cite this Entry
“Metaphor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/metaphor. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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