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Metonymical for Dummies

adjective

pronunciation: ,mɛtə'nɪmɪkəl

What does Metonymical really mean?

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Alright, so "metonymical" is a bit of a big word, but don't worry, I'll break it down for you. So, when we say something is metonymical, it means that it's related to something else by association or suggestion, rather than by direct comparison. It's like when we use a word or phrase to stand in for something else that it's closely connected to.

Let me give you an example to help you understand better. Think about how we often use the word "crown" to refer to a king or queen. The crown itself doesn't represent the whole person, but it's closely associated with royalty. So, in this case, "crown" is being used metonymically to stand in for a king or queen.

Another way to think about it is like using a symbol to represent something else. For instance, when we say "The White House issued a statement today," we're not literally saying that the building itself spoke, but we're using "The White House" as a metonym for the President or the government.

So, when something is described as metonymical, it means there's this indirect connection or substitution happening. It's like using one thing to represent or symbolize something else that's related to it in some way.

I hope that helps you understand what "metonymical" means!

Revised and Fact checked by Stephanie Wilson on 2023-11-16 21:44:01

Metonymical In a sentece

Learn how to use Metonymical inside a sentece

  • When someone says 'the crown' to refer to the monarchy, it's a metonymical use of the word.
  • Saying 'the White House' when you mean the President or the government is a metonymical reference.
  • Referring to 'Hollywood' to mean the American film industry is an example of using metonymical language.
  • Using 'the press' to mean journalists or news media is a metonymical expression.
  • When people say 'the pen is mightier than the sword' they are using a metonymical phrase to talk about writing and debate being more powerful than violence.

Metonymical Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Metonymical Similar Words

Words that similar to the original word, but are not synonyms.