variants
also symbolical
as in representational
having the function or meaning of an object or figure that stands for something else
the butterfly in the poem is symbolic of the impermanence of youth
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Recent Examples of symbolic
Instead of emphasizing her mother's absence, the newlywed — who was only 15 when her mom, a NICU nurse and teacher, died — wanted something more symbolic.
—
Michelle Lee, People.com, 14 June 2025
My dreams are usually replays of events from the day — sometimes not literal, sometimes symbolic or metaphorical — but there’s always some rooting in real-world experience.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025
My work emerges from that tension between documenting external truths and exploring something more internal and symbolic.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 11 June 2025
This delay means that younger Gen Xers and Millennials, who may have already navigated significant financial milestones—like buying a home or sending kids to college—without that anticipated boost, may find inheritances to be more symbolic than transformative.
—Joseph Coughlin, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for symbolic
Michelle Lee, People.com, 14 June 2025
My dreams are usually replays of events from the day — sometimes not literal, sometimes symbolic or metaphorical — but there’s always some rooting in real-world experience.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025
My work emerges from that tension between documenting external truths and exploring something more internal and symbolic.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 11 June 2025
This delay means that younger Gen Xers and Millennials, who may have already navigated significant financial milestones—like buying a home or sending kids to college—without that anticipated boost, may find inheritances to be more symbolic than transformative.
—Joseph Coughlin, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for symbolic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for symbolic
representative
Adjective
-
Nintendo representative director and fellow Shigeru Miyamoto produces the feature alongside Arad.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
9 June 2025
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By removing the barrier of self-nomination, organizations can tap into a wider pool of talent and create a more diverse and representative leadership pipeline.—
Julie Kratz,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Symbolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/symbolic. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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