literalist Definition
- 1a person who interprets words or statements in their literal sense, disregarding any metaphorical or allegorical meaning
- 2a person who adheres strictly to a particular doctrine or theory
Using literalist: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "literalist" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He is a literalist who takes everything at face value.
Example
The religious group was divided between the literalists and the metaphorical interpreters.
Example
The author's work is often criticized for being too literalist in its interpretation of historical events.
literalist Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for literalist
Phrases with literalist
a person who interprets the Bible literally, without considering its historical or cultural context
Example
The debate between biblical literalists and those who interpret the Bible metaphorically has been ongoing for centuries.
a person who interprets the Constitution of the United States in a strict, literal manner, without considering its historical or cultural context
Example
The Supreme Court is often divided between constitutional literalists and those who believe in a more flexible interpretation of the Constitution.
a person who interprets scientific theories and data in a strictly literal manner, without considering alternative explanations or interpretations
Example
The scientific community is divided between those who are scientific literalists and those who believe in a more flexible interpretation of scientific data.
Summary: literalist in Brief
A 'literalist' [ˈlɪt(ə)rəlɪst] is a person who interprets words or statements in their literal sense, disregarding any metaphorical or allegorical meaning. It can also refer to someone who adheres strictly to a particular doctrine or theory. Examples include a biblical literalist, a constitutional literalist, and a scientific literalist. Synonyms include dogmatist and purist, while an informal term is 'stickler.'
