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
From there to the gates of hell – and the literal end of the road.
—
Helen Brown, TheWeek, 30 Apr. 2026
Was Widow’s Bay a literal prison at one point, or is this a metaphor that speaks to how desperately the populace clings to the past?
—Jen Chaney, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
Just don’t go in expecting a literal adaptation of the literary classic.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
In addition to providing the aforementioned literal functions, kitchen islands help determine kitchen layouts, Tucker says.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for literal
Helen Brown, TheWeek, 30 Apr. 2026
Was Widow’s Bay a literal prison at one point, or is this a metaphor that speaks to how desperately the populace clings to the past?
—Jen Chaney, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
Just don’t go in expecting a literal adaptation of the literary classic.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
In addition to providing the aforementioned literal functions, kitchen islands help determine kitchen layouts, Tucker says.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for literal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literal
Adjective
-
Thousands of photographs and historical documents are stored in archives and the collections section of the museum houses an assortment of memorabilia.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
All three writers turned loving, humorous, piercing gazes on a particular place, exploring, through cycles of plays, the rich humanity and the grave historical wounds of its inhabitants.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Yet neither approach had any factual basis, and any success either group had was likely due to the placebo effect—merely giving a patient special attention and the hope of a cure can be healing in itself.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Some complaints derive from the film brushing aside many of the late King of Pop’s controversies, while others criticize the factual problems of Michael’s life and career, including missing family members.—
Allison DeGrushe,
StyleCaster,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Moon moves through your 1st House of Identity, bringing focus back to what’s true for you.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
While that’s still true, some of these rising players are feeling the pain of fickle production, too.—
Erik Hayden,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Sarah Hoover wears a lavender pantsuit at a screening of the documentary Art's Missing Period with Kotex in New York City.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The festival opens with the documentary film STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE!—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Pee-Wee as Himself, the 2025 Emmy award winner for best documentary or nonfictional special, is also among the nominees.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
-
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
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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 3 May. 2026.
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