symbolic
symbolic
Definition
sym·bolic (sim bäl′ik)
adjective
- of or expressed in a symbol or symbols
- that serves as a symbol (of something)
- characterized by symbolism
Etymology: LL symbolicus < Gr symbolikos
sym·bol′i·cally adverb
symbolic
Synonyms
symbolic
modif.
symbolic
Usage Examples
Preposition: of
- something: Doubtlessly this is massively symbolic of something, but it's not quite clear what.
- power: This time the Swastika is embodied within a gold wreath, again symbolic of power and the glory of the Nazi party.
- world: The land of Egypt, in scripture, is often symbolic of the world, a world which is no friend of Grace.
- peace: White flowers, symbolic of peace, were laid in commemorative solidarity.
Preposition: in
- nature: But icons as understood in the Orthodox Church since that date are partly symbolic in nature.
Modifies a noun
- gesture: Symbolic gestures, important in their time, no longer build trust.
- interactionism: Symbolic Interactionism is concerned with social situations and the way people make sense of those situations.
- significance: Blades of grass dyed with manganese were woven into the baskets in geometric patterns with a symbolic significance.
- computation: My tendency to get lost when trying to follow a mass of symbolic computations has long haunted me.
- representation: Symbolic representations do not take kindly to Meta Model questions.
- meaning: Morris rejects any symbolic meaning to the number of fish caught, believing there is no actual evidence to support the view.
Modifying Another Word
- purely: He was terrific if purely symbolic best country album.
- hugely: This hugely symbolic event was arguably a ritual act of public desecration which transgressed the most sacred site of communist public space.
- merely: If it is only a symbol then it doesn't literally purify but is merely symbolic of purification.
- largely: In practice, the legislation turned out to be largely symbolic.
- deeply: In a deeply symbolic action he chose twelve disciples one for each of the ancient tribes.
Used with adjective complement
- seem: As it was the International Year of the Mountains, to visit the greatest of them all seemed highly symbolic.
- become: A customary Champions of Europe, becoming increasingly symbolic all the time, led onto a better performance in the second half.
- consider: As philosophers and physiologists have established, even physical reality can be considered as symbolic.
Browse dictionary entries near symbolic
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