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 13 of 57: from “cure cancer” to “delicious”.
- cure cancer verb To achieve an impossible goal or to attain the ultimate triumph over a seemingly insurmountable, multifaceted, and deeply entrenched…
- cure for cancer noun The ultimate breakthrough or achievement in any challenging field, symbolizing an elusive, transformative solution to a seemingly…
- curry verb To try to win or gain (favour) by flattering.
- curtail verb To limit or restrict; to keep in check.
- curtain verb To hide, cover or separate as if by a curtain.
- curtain off verb To isolate.
- curtained adj Hidden or separated as if by a curtain.
- curtains noun An end or death.
- curvet verb (of a person) To prance; to caper, frolic.
- cushion verb To absorb or deaden the impact of.
- cusp noun An important moment when a decision is made that will determine future events.
- cut noun The act of cutting.
- cut a wide swath verb To behave in an expansive, flagrantly showy, or pushy manner, especially in public venues; to exert sweeping influence.
- cut across verb To go through figurative barriers; to go beyond an expected boundary.
- cut loose verb To loosen or set free someone or something.
- cut slingload verb To sever ties with someone, usually when it is no longer practical or beneficial to continue supporting them.
- cut through noun Reach; influence.
- cut to the quick verb To hurt a person deeply, especially emotionally.
- cycloptic adj Approaching or viewing a situation with a single perspective, lacking foresight; short-sighted.
- cynosure noun That which serves to guide or direct; a guiding star.
- dabble verb To participate or have an interest in an activity in a casual or superficial way.
- daddy noun Often in the form the daddy of: the most significant of a number of things; a perfect example.
- daguerreotype verb To describe or represent exactly or faithfully; depict.
- Dagwood sandwich noun A thick stack of flat objects or a complicated melange of diverse components or ingredients.
- daisy chain noun A sequence of events where each one leads to the next.
- Dalek noun One who is dogmatic, unfeeling and determined.
- damaged goods noun A person who has an unresolved conflict of emotions after a traumatic event.
- damp adj Despondent; dispirited, downcast.
- dampener noun A discouraging event or remark.
- dance verb To leap or move lightly and rapidly.
- dance card noun An appointment schedule.
- danger signal noun An indication that a potentially bad or dangerous situation could develop.
- danger zone noun The genitals.
- dangle verb To put forth as a possibility.
- dangling adj In a state of suspense.
- dank adj Moist and sticky, (by extension) highly potent.
- darkling adj Obscure; taking place unseen, as if in the dark.
- darkly adv In a manner which is not readily visible or noticeable; inconspicuously.
- darkside noun The side of something that is metaphorically dark, i.e. evil, distressing or otherwise undesirable; the negative aspect of something.
- dart noun Anything resembling such a missile; something that pierces or wounds like such a weapon.
- dash verb To sprinkle; to splatter.
- dauphin noun An eldest son.
- dawn verb To start to appear or become obvious.
- dawntime noun The time when something is just beginning.
- daylight noun Emotional or psychological distance between people, or disagreement.
- dazzle verb To render incapable of thinking clearly; to overwhelm with showiness or brilliance.
- dazzlement noun The condition of being dazzled.
- dead cat verb To announce (something) as a dead cat; to raise an issue as a political distraction.
- dead end noun A position that offers no hope of change or progress.
- dead in the water adj Doomed; unable to succeed.
- dead letter office noun A channel of communications for which the recipient neither acknowledges nor acts upon any messages sent.
- dead level noun Sameness.
- dead man walking noun Someone who is soon to die.
- dead set noun A determined effort.
- dead weight noun That which is useless or excess; that which slows something down.
- dead wood noun Matters or things that have become unnecessary or otherwise useless; bloat, dead weight.
- deadlift noun An effort made under discouraging conditions.
- deadlight noun An eye.
- deadliness noun Tedium, or the quality of being boring.
- deafen verb To stun, as with noise.
- deafness noun Lack of knowledge or refusal to admit a particular problem, issue, etc.
- death noun A cause of great stress, exhaustion, embarrassment, or another negative condition (for someone).
- death by a thousand cuts noun A gradual decline or failure as the result of many minor mishaps.
- death list noun A list of people whose death is sought, usually by either a repressive government or a criminal organization.
- death sentence noun Anything that spells death.
- death spiral noun The situation or course of action of one who is on a path toward some sort of inevitable catastrophic failure; a negative feedback loop.
- death throe noun The final actions or output of a machine or other object before it ceases to function.
- death warrant noun That which definitively spells the end of something.
- deathblow noun Something that prevents the completion, or ends the existence, of a project etc.; a fatal setback.
- deathlock noun A struggle to destroy a force or principle to which one is opposed, or between two mutually incompatible principles.
- deathtrap noun An extremely dangerous location, structure, or device.
- debacle noun An event or enterprise that ends suddenly and disastrously, often with humiliating consequences.
- decapitate verb To oust or destroy the leadership or ruling body of (a government etc.).
- deciduous adj Transitory, ephemeral, not lasting.
- deckle-edged adj Rough-edged like uncut paper.
- declare war verb To announce one's intention to fiercely combat or eradicate something.
- declaw verb To make harmless; to remove the power, authority, or force from.
- decoct verb To heat as if by boiling.
- deconstruct verb To break something down into its component parts.
- decoy-duck noun One employed to lure others into danger.
- decrown verb To deprive of supremacy or exaltedness.
- deep adj Extending far down from the top, or surface, to the bottom, literally or figuratively.
- deep end noun A situation where expertise or experience is required.
- deep pockets noun An ample supply of money, especially money which one is willing to spend.
- deep-rooted adj Firmly established in thought or behavior and difficult to change.
- deep-seated adj Firmly implanted or established in thought or behavior and difficult to change; deeply ingrained.
- deep-set adj firmly in place; long-standing
- defang verb To render (something) harmless.
- defecate verb To clean (something) of dregs, impurities, etc.; to purify.
- defenestration noun to eliminate from a contest or sport championship
- defervesce verb To become less agitated; to cool down.
- defile noun A narrow passage or way (originally (military), one which soldiers could only march through in a single file or line), especially a narrow…
- deflated adj Disappointed; depressed, especially after having been hopeful or in high spirits.
- deflect verb To avoid addressing (questions, criticism, etc.).
- deflection noun The act of refusing to address something (questions, criticism, etc.).
- deform verb To change the look of (something), usually thus making it imperfect or unattractive; to give (something) an abnormal or unusual appearance.
- defrock verb To formally remove the rights and authority of a member of the clergy.
- defusal noun The act or process of calming, de-escalating, or otherwise making a potentially dangerous, volatile, or tense situation less dangerous or…
- defuse verb To make less dangerous, tense, or hostile.
- delicious adj Pleasing to a person's taste; pleasing to the eyes or mind.