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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of literal
The woman died during a significant El Niño period that would have disrupted crop yields and impacted the community’s agriculture, so she may have been sacrificed because of her literal fertility in hopes of bringing back fertile soil, study author Sara Juengst told LiveScience.
—
Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2025
And then some plants, like corn, can offer a more practical benefit: acting as a literal trellis for others.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2025
There is also a literal external factor: This week saw historically cold weather, especially in the South.
—Richard Deitsch, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Roughly nine times larger than Rwanda, the rocky, unmaintained roads tend to be a metaphorical and literal pain in the neck.
—Alexandra Owens, Robb Report, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for literal 
Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2025
And then some plants, like corn, can offer a more practical benefit: acting as a literal trellis for others.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2025
There is also a literal external factor: This week saw historically cold weather, especially in the South.
—Richard Deitsch, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Roughly nine times larger than Rwanda, the rocky, unmaintained roads tend to be a metaphorical and literal pain in the neck.
—Alexandra Owens, Robb Report, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for literal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literal
Adjective
-
While that was up 16.2% from a year earlier, the inventory remained well below the annual historical average of about 1.98 million, according to data going back to 1999.—
ALEX VEIGA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
arkansasonline.com,
25 Jan. 2025
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To go from historical epics like Braveheart to this feels kind of sad.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Yi had communicated with the baby’s mother the day before and on the same day that the infant ingested a deadly amount of the drug, according to a factual proffer in the case, the facts agreed on by the defense and prosecutors.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Jan. 2025
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The New York Times defended its reporting, stating it was based on thousands of original documents and adhered to journalistic standards, with no factual errors identified by Baldoni or his team.—
Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell,
Newsweek,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Multigenerational families living together is very true to Latine culture in the United States and beyond.—
Zayda Rivera,
Parents,
27 Jan. 2025
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Even if for the sake of argument that were true, the policy response is not and never can be.—
The Editors,
National Review,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The Guardian Australia reported that his role had been significantly reduced in scope following the appointment of new ABC Chair Kim Williams, who removed his radio and digital responsibilities and reportedly has different ideas about documentary output.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2025
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The series is slated on NBC for Sunday at 9 p.m. ET out of documentary series The Americas (and into Grosse Pointe Garden Society, another newbie drama).—
Marc Berman,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
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Literally
A word that (literally) drives people nuts
Thesaurus Entries Near literal
Cite this Entry
“Literal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/literal. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
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