symmetrical

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparable

   Having two sides that are the same as each other, like a mirror image.

   Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: a symmetrical face.

   Patterns

   • perfectly symmetrical
   • symmetrical about something

   The butterfly's wings are perfectly symmetrical.

   The garden has a symmetrical design with a fountain in the middle.

   A square is symmetrical about its diagonal.

2. 2adjectivecomparableformal

   Balanced in the same way on both sides, such as an arrangement or relationship.

   Grammar: Can describe non-physical things such as agreements.

   Patterns

   • a symmetrical relationship

   The treaty created a symmetrical relationship between the two countries.

   Their duties were symmetrical, with each side doing the same tasks.

Common combinations

perfectly symmetrical

The snowflake was perfectly symmetrical.

symmetrical shape

Draw a symmetrical shape on the grid.

symmetrical design

The hotel has a symmetrical design.

symmetrical face

Many people find a symmetrical face attractive.

roughly symmetrical

The two wings were roughly symmetrical.

Synonyms and how they differ

balanced

Balanced is wider and can refer to weight, mood or fairness, not only matching sides.

even

Even can mean flat or equal in number, whereas symmetrical needs mirrored halves.

regular

Regular means following a pattern with equal parts, but need not have mirrored sides.

Opposites

Word family

symmetry noun

the quality of matching sides

symmetrically adverb

in a mirrored way

asymmetrical adjective

not matching on both sides

symmetric adjective

a shorter form used in mathematics

Commonly confused: symmetrical or geometrical?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “symmetrical”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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