Even people who don't believe in the Catholic church venerate the Pope as a symbolic leader.
Source: tatoeba (1940)
Symbolic
Synonyms for "symbolic" (289 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (58)
Adjective(28 words)
emblematicabstract processalgebraicalgebraic approachalgebraic formalgebraic proofalgebraic systemallegoricalanagogicalbiblical flood mythceremonialceremonial actionceremonial cremationceremonial dutiesceremonial eventceremonial itemceremonial objectceremonial objectsceremonial pledgeceremonial regalia
Show 8 more words
ceremonial staffceremonial toolceremonial urncultural creationcultural iconcultural status symbolcultural symboldecorative aspect
Noun(16 words)
abstract adjectivealgebraic expressionalgebraic structureanimal motifceremonial bowlceremonial dressceremonial maceceremonial water bowlchemical notation descriptorclxvcolor motifcolor symbolism changecultural artifactcultural expressionismcultural expressionscultural sign
Strong matches (87)
Verb(5 words)
designativediagnosticemblematicevidentialexhibitiveexpressiveextendedextensionalfiguralfigurativefull of meaningfull of pointfull of substanceglossematiciconicidentifyingideographicidiosyncraticimplicativeindicating
Noun(18 words)
dutch symbolischentidade abstratafigurative sculpturefigurative studyfigurative usageformal expressionformal logiciangraphic markinghieroglyphiciconic greekinsigneless physicallily motifmath expressionmath notationmath program featuresmath worksheets algebramathematical language
Adjective(36 words)
emblematic descriptoremblematicalevocative writingfigurativefigurative conceptfigurative descriptionfigurative expressionfigurative languagesfigurative meaningfigurative termfigurative useformal logicformal logicsformal permissionformal rulesformal theoryfraughtglyphichieroglyphic recordshieroglyphic tradition
Related words (144)
Noun(50 words)
mathematical operationmathematical representationmathematical signmathematical symbolmental representationmore algebraicmore nonnumericmore notationalmost motivicmost notationalmusic notation descriptormusical notationnational emblemnational monumentnationalistic symbolic adjectivenonarithmetic approachnonlanguagenotational systemnumeralpeppercorn
Show 30 more words
pictograph keypoetic usagepredicate logicsreaction equationreligious motifrepresentingritual artifactritual bowlschematic diagramsemiotic processsemiotic termsign formsign productionsignifying cluesymbolic adjectivesymbolic calculussymbolic ordersymbolic religious artsymbolic representationssymbolisttarotteardrop motiftokentoken gesturetrasformazione algebricatriumphal archtypifying characteristicvisual metaphorvisual metaphor devicevisual motif
Adjective(52 words)
metaphoricmetaphoricalmetaphorical animalmetaphorical descriptormetaphorical labelmetaphorical labelsmetaphorical processmetaphorical usemetaphysical definitionmetonymicmythic lensmythic worldview outlookmythologicalnational symbolsnondiagrammaticnonliteral meaningnonnumeral systemnonnumeric characternonorthographic conventionnonphysical chemistry
Show 32 more words
nonspatial methodsnonverbal modenotation-basednotationalnotational conceptnotational conventionsphallicpoetic markerpolitical aestheticspublic monument dedicationpurgatorialrepresentationalrepresentational modelrepresentative governmentritualisticritualized behaviorroman numeral lessonroyal chartersacramentalsemantic cluesslavelikestormy seassymbolic logic languagesymbolic logic systemsymbolic markingsymbolic order activitiessymbolicaltalismanictokenishtotemicvariable lettervariable notation
Adverb(1 words)
most national icon
Determiner(1 words)
most vector notation
Verb(3 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: emblematic, abstract, abstract adjective, abstract process, algebraic.
- Sentence evidence is available for symbolic, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "symbolic".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "symbolic"
Keep "symbolic" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "symbolic" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "symbolic", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "symbolic" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
3 entriesMore specific
5 entriesCollocations
6 entriessymbolic formsymbolic gesturesymbolic meaningsymbolic representationsymbolic systemsymbolic value
Inflections
2 entriesmore symbolicmost symbolic
Derivations
4 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
13 total sentences available.
The dismissal of foreign minister Tanaka is symbolic of the continuing political turmoil.
Source: tatoeba (327868)
Might it happen to be a large symbolic grove of trees?
Source: tatoeba (1128733)
So far, the impact of the BDS movement is more symbolic than economic.
Source: tatoeba (6963939)
Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "symbolic"?
Closest matches include emblematic, abstract, abstract adjective, abstract process, algebraic.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "symbolic"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.