symbolic
adjective
sym·bol·ic
sim-ˈbä-lik 
variants
or less commonly symbolical
2
: of, relating to, or constituting a symbol
3
: characterized by or terminating in symbols
symbolic thinking
4
: characterized by symbolism
a symbolic dance
Examples of symbolic in a Sentence
The lighting of the candles is symbolic.
The sharing of the wine has symbolic meaning.
Recent Examples on the Web
Changing the terminology the committee uses is a symbolic move that reflects the support among many Republicans in Congress for recognizing Israeli sovereignty there.
—
Barak Ravid, Axios, 26 Feb. 2025
By then, John had died, and a new Pope, Paul VI—the former Archbishop of Milan, Giovanni Battista Montini—had gone to Jerusalem, seeking symbolic expression of the new Catholic-Jewish amity.
—Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2025
The First Amendment Encyclopedia explains that the Supreme Court has upheld the right to use the flag as a form of symbolic speech.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
In the end, while the idea of a hefty DOGE dividend check is undeniably appealing, the underlying math and current savings data suggest that the Trump DOGE Dividend check, if implemented, could be more symbolic than transformative—a mere fraction of what many hope for.
—Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for symbolic
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Barak Ravid, Axios, 26 Feb. 2025
By then, John had died, and a new Pope, Paul VI—the former Archbishop of Milan, Giovanni Battista Montini—had gone to Jerusalem, seeking symbolic expression of the new Catholic-Jewish amity.
—Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2025
The First Amendment Encyclopedia explains that the Supreme Court has upheld the right to use the flag as a form of symbolic speech.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
In the end, while the idea of a hefty DOGE dividend check is undeniably appealing, the underlying math and current savings data suggest that the Trump DOGE Dividend check, if implemented, could be more symbolic than transformative—a mere fraction of what many hope for.
—Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for symbolic
Cite this Entry
“Symbolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/symbolic. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
symbolic
adjective
sym·bol·ic
sim-ˈbäl-ik
variants
also symbolical
1
: of, relating to, or using symbols or symbolism
a symbolic meaning
symbolic art
2
: having the function or meaning of a symbol
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