lexical

adjective

ˈlek-si-kəl How to pronounce lexical (audio)
Definition of lexicalnext
as in linguistic
of or relating to words or language a dictionary provides lexical information—it tells you what the word "cat" means, not all there is to know about cats

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lexical The appearance of these five lexical inventions marks the first time that humankind ever attached words to this invisible and magical mystery. — Big Think, 18 Nov. 2025 Barrett designed a reading program to help flag emerging lexical items and turbocharge additions, tripling the volume of new words added in the site’s periodic updates over the course of a year. — Stefan Fatsis, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2025 Templates enforce everything from slide masters to the lexical choices that signal risk levels; the model should not be able to invent metrics or rewrite disclaimers. — Noah Ohrner, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025 With the arrival of printing, the new terminology created more opportunities for lexical growth, as did the publishing industry; and the emergence of the internet has produced still more. — David Crystal june 27, Literary Hub, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for lexical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lexical
  1. linguistic
  2. verbal
  3. communicative
Adjective
  • As explored in my recent book, this dialect formed from linguistic variation that came in with colonial-era settlers from different places and stations.
    — Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
  • This poll is part of an ongoing project exploring the views of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, who are usually not highlighted in other surveys because of small sample sizes and lack of linguistic representation.
    — Terry Tang, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of linguistic
Adjective
  • For people who expect visible enthusiasm, quick verbal responses, eye contact or other signs of engagement, the absence of those cues might lead them to suspect something is wrong — but that’s not always the case.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • OutKick reporter Matt Calkins, who was credentialed for the match, attempted to document the confrontation but was also subjected to verbal and physical aggression.
    — Matt Calkins , Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of verbal
Adjective
  • Through the administration’s embrace (and extensive personal leveraging) of crypto’s potential, crypto and retail speculation are increasingly being woven into the fabric of communicative and cultural spaces.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The arrival ceremony suggested that others understood the communicative potential of clothes at such an event, too.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of communicative

Browse Nearby Words

lexica
lexical
lexicographer
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Cite this Entry

“Lexical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lexical. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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