as in rhetorical
marked by the use of impressive-sounding but mostly meaningless words and phrases
a speech that was an oratorical endorsement of the value of education but one that refused to call for greater spending on education
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 oratorical
That wasn’t Newsom’s only oratorical slip-up, although the second one says more about the larger Democratic Party than anything else.
—
Douglas Schoen,
Oc Register,
26 Feb. 2026
With his height and his oratorical flourishes, Jackson was a charismatic figure who led protests in Greensboro.
—
Johanna Neuman,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
The Dallas area was a hotbed of competitive debate, and, at first, the oratorical polish of Kuang’s teammates was intimidating.
—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oratorical
Douglas Schoen,
Oc Register,
26 Feb. 2026
With his height and his oratorical flourishes, Jackson was a charismatic figure who led protests in Greensboro.
—
Johanna Neuman,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
The Dallas area was a hotbed of competitive debate, and, at first, the oratorical polish of Kuang’s teammates was intimidating.
—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oratorical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oratorical
rhetorical
Adjective
-
But Trump so far, it’s mostly been rhetorical.
-
Beginning in her early teens, Joyce loved watching Kirk’s debates on Instagram, seeing in them not carefully honed rhetorical tactics but authentic civility.
Cite this Entry
“Oratorical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oratorical. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
