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

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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 result is a measurable reduction in lexical, syntactic, and semantic diversity—the very fabric of meaning and precision. Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 As part of this unconventional arrangement, CBS agrees to forever do things the Augusta way, which means that the booth talent forever navigates a minefield of potential lexical gaffes. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 11 Apr. 2025 But what obsessed me were the lyrics, which describe tragi-comically bleak scenes of contemporary abjection using language that felt borderline Shakespearean, tied up in elaborate rhyme schemes and tight lexical knots. Meaghan Garvey, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2025 Russian speakers in the experiment proved faster than English speakers at distinguishing shades that corresponded to that lexical distinction. Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for lexical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lexical
Adjective
  • The linguistic breakdown remained consistent with 2024’s cumulative figures.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 July 2025
  • Drawing an analogy to 1970s research about whether non-human primates were capable of using language—which ultimately were found to have overstated the depth of linguistic capacity that chimpanzees possess—the authors argue that the AI scheming literature suffers from similar flaws.
    Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • Without firm protections or clarity on future reimbursement, this budget sets up another round of fiscal instability for institutions that cannot afford to operate on hope and verbal commitments.
    Heather Somers, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2025
  • But the moment quickly dissolves into a verbal ping-pong match between Shamea, Drew, and Porsha—because what’s a reunion without a few more sparks?
    Shelby Stewart, Essence, 20 July 2025
Adjective
  • Which domains are operationally critical and which are purely communicative?
    Daniel Strauss, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • Geminis are social, communicative, and witty, so give your child a name that can keep up!
    Kara Nesvig, Parents, 17 June 2025

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“Lexical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lexical. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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