This page gathers the 5,691 dictionary entries of which at least one sense is labelled “Figuratively” by Wiktionary. The definition shown is that sense; each word leads to its full entry. Page 1 of 57: from “-gasm” to “alphabet soup”.
- -gasm suffix Forms nouns for an intensely “explosive” or pleasurable experience.
- -sphere suffix Particular realm or interest of a group of people, object, etc.; its spatial or virtual sphere of influence.
- -ville suffix Used with an adjective, noun, or gerund as a mildly intensifying locative, indicating a region or state of that kind.
- 180 noun The exact opposite.
- à la carte adj Selective; only choosing what one likes or desires.
- abate verb To dull (an edge, point, etc.); to blunt.
- aberrant adj Straying from the right way; deviating from morality or truth.
- abjection noun Something cast off; garbage.
- abloom adj Having something growing or grown.
- aboil adj Heated up; excited.
- abortion noun A misshapen person or thing; a monstrosity.
- about prep On or near (one's person); attached as an attribute to; in the makeup of, or at the command of.
- about-face noun A reversal in direction; a reversal of attitude or opinion.
- above prep Higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; higher in measure, degree, volume, or pitch, etc. than; out of reach; not exposed to…
- above ground prep_phrase Not dead and buried; alive.
- above the rim prep_phrase at a high level of excellence
- abreast adv Alongside; parallel to.
- abrood adv Mischief.
- absinthe noun Bitterness; sorrow.
- absolute cinema noun Any event or work personally considered to be outstanding or amusing.
- abstract verb To withdraw oneself; to retire.
- aby verb To pay (something) as a penalty, to atone for; to suffer (something).
- abysmal adj Extremely bad; terrible.
- abyss noun A difference, especially a large difference, between groups.
- abyssal adj In the utter depths of despair; gloomy.
- accelerant noun Something that speeds up a process or the uptake of something else.
- accent noun Emphasis or importance in general.
- accordion noun Something, or set of things (concepts, etc), which can be expanded (or extended) and collapsed, like the musical instrument's pleated…
- accretion noun Increase by natural growth, especially the gradual increase of organic bodies by the internal addition of matter; organic growth; also, the…
- ace-high adj Of a person, highly esteemed or valued.
- acerb adj Sharp and harsh in expressing oneself.
- acerbic adj Sharp, harsh, biting.
- acerbity noun Harshness, bitterness, or severity.
- Acherontic adj Of or pertaining to hell.
- acid adj Sour-tempered.
- acid test noun A rigorous test or appraisal of the quality or worth of something.
- acidify verb To sour; to embitter.
- acidity noun A caustic, sour, biting, or bitter quality.
- acidulous adj Sharp; caustic.
- acrid adj Caustic; bitter; bitterly irritating.
- acridity noun Bitterness in speech or behavior; causticness.
- acrimonious adj Angry, acid, and sharp in delivering argumentative replies: bitter, mean-spirited, sharp in language or tone.
- acrobat verb To move like an acrobat (with agility, balance, long leaps, etc.).
- act of faith noun An action taken based on trust in a positive outcome with no guarantees.
- action stations noun Any general state of intense anticipatory activity.
- active ingredient noun The essence of something, or a sine qua non that it requires.
- acuity noun The ability to think, see, or hear clearly.
- aculeated adj Pungent, incisive.
- Adam and Eve noun A starting point; a set of ancestors or progenitors.
- adamant noun Chiefly in of adamant: an embodiment of impenetrable hardness; the quality of not being easily destroyed or overcome; impenetrableness…
- adamantine adj Incapable of being broken, dissolved, or penetrated; impenetrable, unbreakable.
- addled adj Confused; mixed up.
- adhere verb To be attached or devoted by personal union, in belief, on principle, etc.
- adjacent prep Related to; suggestive of; bordering on.
- adrenaline rush noun An event or activity which causes such a state.
- adrip adj Covered or filled (with something) as if to the point of dripping.
- adulterate verb To commit adultery.
- adumbration noun A rough or symbolic representation; a vague indication of what is to come, a foreshadowing.
- advance the ball verb To make progress towards some shared or ultimate goal.
- aegis noun Guidance, protection; endorsement, sponsorship.
- Aesculapian adj Medical, concerning healing.
- aestiferous adj Producing much (aestival) heat.
- affy verb Followed by in, to, or unto: to bind or pledge (someone or something) to another person or thing.
- aflame adv In or into a colour like that of a flame.
- afloat adv In or into circulation or currency.
- afoot adv In motion; in action; astir; stirring; in progress.
- afroth adj Full of, or covered with something.
- afterbite noun That which returns with a memory, usually one that is bitter or painful
- aftergrowth noun Any abstraction of the above.
- afternoon noun The later part of anything, often with implications of decline.
- aftershock noun By extension, any result or consequence following a major event.
- afterstroke noun A payback
- afterwash noun Synonym of backwash (“result or consequence”).
- age verb To allow (something) to persist by postponing an action that would extinguish it, as a debt.
- agenda noun An ulterior motive; a program of various such motives.
- airbrush verb To edit or alter something in order to make it appear better.
- airiness noun Insubstantiality.
- airing noun An act of broadcasting a radio or television show; a broadcasting.
- airless adj Stifling; dead; lacking vitality or excitement.
- airlock verb To firewall, to maintain an ethical wall.
- airtight adj Having no weak points or flaws.
- akilter adj twisted, dysfunctional
- alarm bell noun A sudden awareness of danger.
- albatross noun A long-term impediment, burden, or curse.
- aldermanic adj Having the (supposed) lifestyle or qualities of an alderman.
- alexipharmic noun Synonym of alexipharmac (“a medical remedy for protecting the body, or an antidote, against harmful substances, especially a poison or…
- algebra noun A system or process (especially one that is complex or convoluted) that substitutes one thing for another, or uses signs or symbols to…
- alight verb To make less heavy; to lighten; to alleviate, to relieve.
- aligned adj Allied or working together with a common goal.
- aliment noun Nourishment, sustenance.
- all day adv Easily; handily; in spades; by far.
- all-weather adj Always there when needed, reliable, dependable, loyal, faithful.
- all-you-can-eat adj Offering unlimited service for a fixed price per time period.
- allergic adj Highly averse.
- allergy noun An antipathy, as toward a person or activity.
- alley cat noun A sexually promiscuous person, especially a woman.
- alloy verb To impair or debase by mixture.
- ally noun A person, group, concept, etc., which is associated with another as a helper; an auxiliary; a supporter.
- alpha dog noun A dominant dog; a dog that is an alpha male or alpha female.
- alphabet soup noun A cryptic overabundance of acronyms and abbreviations.