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
Pumpkins were gifted to the colonists at the original Thanksgiving, so having pumpkins on the menu is symbolic of America's origins.
—
Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, 16 Nov. 2024
That envoy’s work seemed more symbolic than substantive.
—Renad Mansour, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2024
Although largely symbolic, the change — which would align with the manufacturer’s naming convention for its other models — signals Beijing’s growing intention to present itself as a full-scale alternative to Airbus and Boeing, which are both struggling to keep up with demand.
—Reuters, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
These subtle symbolic and rhetorical shifts suggest that North Korea is dissatisfied with China.
—Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for symbolic 
Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, 16 Nov. 2024
That envoy’s work seemed more symbolic than substantive.
—Renad Mansour, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2024
Although largely symbolic, the change — which would align with the manufacturer’s naming convention for its other models — signals Beijing’s growing intention to present itself as a full-scale alternative to Airbus and Boeing, which are both struggling to keep up with demand.
—Reuters, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
These subtle symbolic and rhetorical shifts suggest that North Korea is dissatisfied with China.
—Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for symbolic
Thesaurus Entries Near symbolic
Cite this Entry
“Symbolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/symbolic. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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