variants
also symbolical
as in representative
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of symbolic
Though divisive, the scene was symbolic.
—
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
For many Indians, the loss of the Koh-i-Noor is symbolic of the country's subjugation under colonial rule.
—Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
His itinerary includes the usual goings-on for a head of state — a symbolic speech to Congress one day and a visit to chat with 9/11 families in New York the next.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
The small act of rebellion represented a symbolic tipping point in the battle for independence.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for symbolic
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
For many Indians, the loss of the Koh-i-Noor is symbolic of the country's subjugation under colonial rule.
—Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
His itinerary includes the usual goings-on for a head of state — a symbolic speech to Congress one day and a visit to chat with 9/11 families in New York the next.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
The small act of rebellion represented a symbolic tipping point in the battle for independence.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for symbolic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for symbolic
Adjective
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According to the company, the representative underwater mission offered a more realistic measure of usable range than a simple straight-line transit figure.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
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Popular dishes on the dinner menu include fresh pastas, chaya raviolis, the rib eye aguachile, and the torta ahogada, while the lunch menu offers all of the most representative dishes of Yucatecan cuisine.—
Regina Zumarraga,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Her own work moves between evocative and representational — but there’s always a thread.—
The Editors of ARTnews,
ARTnews.com,
14 Apr. 2026
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This means that representational alignment may be a solvable problem and a step toward addressing broader alignment challenges.—
Arryn Robbins,
The Conversation,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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He’s excited by Hibner’s potential — and also gratified by the transaction’s emblematic significance.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Celebrities took the opportunity to honor the country’s most emblematic American designers.—
Blanche Marcel,
Vanity Fair,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Symbolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/symbolic. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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