literal Synonyms
Another word for literal
• adjective (Context 1)
Taking words in their most basic, exact sense without metaphor, exaggeration, or allegory.
"A purely exact interpretation of the poem misses its deeper symbolic meaning."
• adjective (Context 2)
Reproducing the exact words of an original text or speech, especially in a translation.
"The scholar provided a word-for-word translation of the ancient Greek manuscript alongside an idiomatic version."
• noun (Context 3)
A notation in source code representing a fixed value directly, such as a number, character, or string, rather than a variable (in computer programming).
"In the expression, the string constant is enclosed in quotation marks so the compiler treats it as raw text."
• adjective (Context 4)
Lacking imagination or subtlety; overly prosaic and matter-of-fact (of a person or their thinking).
"He was too literal-minded to appreciate the playful irony in his colleague's remarks."
• noun (Context 5)
A misprint or typographical error involving a single letter or character in a printed text.
"The proofreader spotted a misprint in the headline just before the newspaper went to press."
Opposites of literal
The opposite of literal shifts depending on context. Common opposites include: