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 23 of 57: from “hairshirt” to “heliograph”.
- hairshirt noun A state of penitence and humility.
- hairshirted adj Humble and penitent; ascetic.
- halal verb to allow
- halcyon adj Calm, undisturbed, peaceful, serene.
- half shell noun Any half of a roughly spherical-like object; any dome-shaped object.
- half-baked adj Of a person or thing: incompletely developed or formed; not fully prepared or trained.
- halfpenny noun A small piece; a fragment.
- halfway house noun A halfway point towards achieving a goal.
- hall of mirrors noun A situation confusing for its false appearances, especially when they are compounded upon one another.
- hallmark noun A distinguishing characteristic.
- ham sandwich noun Something utterly commonplace, of modest value.
- Hamburger Helper noun Anything that extends, enhances, or bulks up a limited resource.
- hammer verb To emphasize a point repeatedly.
- hammer and anvil noun A two-pronged method that is commonly deployed, or the two mechanisms used to carry it out.
- hammer out verb To create or develop (an idea, plan, piece of writing, etc.) with effort.
- hammy adj Amateurish; characterized by overacting.
- hamshackle verb To bind or restrain; to impose restrictions upon.
- hamster wheel noun A monotonous, repetitive, unfulfilling activity, especially one in which no progress is achieved.
- hamstring verb To cripple; to incapacitate; to disable.
- hand in hand adv Naturally, ordinarily or predictably together; commonly having a correlation or relationship.
- hand wringing noun A feigned exhibition of distress, usually with implied inaction or vacillating in the face of a dilemma or crisis.
- hand-hold verb To watch or attend unnecessarily closely (as if holding a child's hand to lead it along).
- handbrake turn noun An abrupt change of opinion.
- handcuff verb to restrain or restrict.
- handcuffs noun Any abstract constraint, such as rules, regulations, or lack of resources.
- handicap verb To place at disadvantage.
- handlanger noun An aide, an assistant.
- handpicked adj Selected with great care or by insiders or an individual.
- handsome adj Of weather, fine, clear and bright.
- hang verb To remain persistently in one's thoughts.
- hang fire verb To wait or hold back.
- hang on verb To wait a moment.
- hang up verb To stop talking.
- hang, draw and quarter verb To savagely attack, or attempt to utterly destroy.
- hangover noun An unpleasant relic left from prior events.
- hara-kiri noun An act against one's own interests.
- harbor of refuge noun Any protection for a person in distress.
- hard mode noun A task or situation made deliberately more difficult than usual, often as a test of skill or endurance.
- hard nail noun A strong person, in character and physique.
- hard-boiled adj Of a person, especially a detective, callous and unsentimental.
- hard-on noun A desirous arousal based on a fascination or obsession.
- hardball noun Tough or ruthless behavior, especially in combat, politics or business.
- hardcrusted adj Tough; stubborn; hard-nosed.
- harden verb To strengthen.
- hardshell adj Rigid or uncompromising in principles, especially in religion or politics.
- hark back noun An act of alluding, returning, or reverting (to a subject previously mentioned, etc.); also, an act of evoking, or longing or pining for (a…
- harken verb To hark back, to return or revert (to a subject, etc.), to allude to, to evoke, to long or pine for (a past event or era).
- hat noun A particular role or capacity that a person might fill.
- hat tip noun An acknowledgment or expression of gratitude, especially for information or inspiration received.
- hatch noun Development; disclosure; discovery.
- hatchery noun A place where something is fostered or nurtured; a nursery.
- hatchet noun Belligerence, animosity; harsh criticism.
- hats off intj Used to express approval or praise: congratulations, kudos, well done!
- haul verb To drag, to pull, to tug.
- have at verb To take on; to begin dealing with.
- have been around the block phrase to be experienced in life.
- have someone's head verb To punish someone severely, as by sacking (firing), imprisonment, or similarly harsh penalties.
- hay ride noun Any easy task.
- haymaker noun Any decisive blow, shock, or forceful action.
- haze noun Any state suggestive of haze in the atmosphere, such as mental confusion or vagueness of memory.
- head noun Mind; one's own thoughts.
- head in the clouds phrase Used to indicate that a person is distracted or disconnected from the present situation or reality in general.
- head to head adv In the same level as someone else.
- head-scratcher noun Something particularly puzzling or confusing.
- headache noun A nuisance or unpleasant problem.
- headlong adj Reckless; impetuous.
- headrush noun Something exciting or thrilling.
- headspring noun A basis or foundation.
- headway noun Progress toward a goal.
- heal verb To reconcile, as a breach or difference; to make whole; to free from guilt.
- healthy adj Significant, hefty; beneficial.
- heap on verb To give someone a lot of something (advice, praise, insults, etc.), especially more so than they can handle or is appropriate
- heart noun A wight or being.
- heart attack noun A major fright.
- heart of glass noun A heart (or by extension, person) in a very fragile romantic state: one that is easily made broken-hearted.
- heartburn noun annoyance, heartache, or similar feelings.
- hearth noun Home or family life.
- hearthless adj Without a home.
- hearthstone noun The fireside, home life.
- heartstring noun A source of one's deepest emotions or inner feelings, especially compassion or love.
- heartstrings noun The source of one's deepest emotions or inner feelings, especially compassion or love.
- heat verb To excite or make hot by action or emotion; to make feverish.
- heat up verb To become busier or more exciting or intense.
- heavenly adj Strongly or sublimely good, beautiful, or pleasurable.
- heavy artillery noun The most powerful means that can be used to carry out something.
- heavy lift noun A requirement that requires a lot of work to satisfy; high bar, tall order.
- heavy metal noun Great influence or power.
- hebetation noun The act of making blunt, dull, or stupid.
- hecatomb noun A great number of animals, people, or things that are sacrificed or destroyed; any great sacrifice; also (generally), a large amount.
- hectic adj Very busy with activity and confusion.
- hedge noun With indication of a person's upbringing, or professional activities, taking place by the side of the road; being third-rate, poor, shoddy.
- hedge in verb To limit or constrain (someone).
- heel turn noun A radical change (of mind, opinion, etc.).
- heelpiece noun The end.
- heffalump noun Something that is elusive.
- heft noun Graveness, seriousness; gravity.
- heifer dust noun Nonsense; rubbish.
- height noun The highest point or maximum degree.
- Heliogabalian adj Dissolute; decadent or morally corrupt.
- heliograph verb To message or indicate as though by heliograph.