symbolizes
Serves as emblem
Symbolizes is the verb form of symbol—to represent something abstract through a concrete image or object.
A dove symbolizes peace; a ring symbolizes commitment.
The word implies a conventional or widely understood association rather than a personal one: The torch symbolizes knowledge.
Things can also symbolize unintentionally: His empty chair symbolized everything we'd lost.
Highest point or tuft
- insigniaDistinguishing mark of rank
- badgeWorn symbol of membership
- sealAuthentication stamp or mark
- bannerDisplayed strip with message
flag · shield · coat of arms · heraldry · totem · monogram · sigil · standard
Instructive allegorical narrative
- fableMoral tale with animals
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- metaphorImplied identity comparison
- analogyExplanatory likeness between things
imagery · allusion · figurative · moral · cautionary · didactic · narrative · representation
Perfect representative of type
- quintessencePurest embodiment of something
- paragonFlawless model to emulate
- exemplarTypical perfect instance
- embodimentConcrete manifestation of idea
incarnation · personification · avatar · prototype · apotheosis · benchmark · pinnacle · essence
To convey meaning
- denoteRepresent in meaning
- connoteSuggest beyond literal meaning
- representStand in for
- indicateSignal or point to
suggest · express · convey · imply · evoke · allude · portend · foreshadow
Meaning-bearing form
- signifiedExpressed meaning symbolically
- denotationWord's explicit dictionary meaning
- connotationImplied sense, not dictionary
- semioticsStudy of signs, symbols
sign · referent · meaning · interpretation · code · index · icon · representation
crest
Highest point or tuft
banner · flag · shield · coat of arms · heraldry · totem · monogram · sigil · standard · pennant
parable
Instructive allegorical narrative
analogy · imagery · allusion · figurative · moral · cautionary · didactic · narrative · representation · archetype
epitome
Perfect representative of type
- quintessencePurest embodiment of something
- paragonFlawless model to emulate
- exemplarTypical perfect instance
embodiment · incarnation · personification · avatar · prototype · apotheosis · benchmark · pinnacle · essence · distillation
signify
To convey meaning
indicate · suggest · express · convey · imply · evoke · allude · portend · foreshadow · betoken
signifier
Meaning-bearing form
- signifiedExpressed meaning symbolically
- denotationWord's explicit dictionary meaning
- connotationImplied sense, not dictionary
semiotics · sign · referent · meaning · interpretation · code · index · icon · representation · semantics
- signifiesrepresents, means, signifies, denotes, stands for
symbolizesdenotes
Indicates or represents
displays · presents · spells out · documents · photographs