oracular

adjective

orac·​u·​lar ȯ-ˈra-kyə-lər 

ə-

1

: resembling an oracle (as in solemnity of delivery)

2

: of, relating to, or being an oracle

oracularity

ȯ-ˌra-kyə-ˈler-ə-tē 

-ˈla-rə-tē

noun

oracularly

ȯ-ˈra-kyə-lər-lē 

adverb

Did you know?

When the ancient Greeks had questions or problems, they would turn to the gods for answers by consulting an oracle, a person through whom the gods communicated, usually in the form of cryptic verse. (Oracle also referred to the god's answer or to the shrine that worshippers approached when seeking advice; the word's root is the Latin verb orare, which means "to speak.") English speakers today can use oracle to simply refer to an authoritative pronouncement or to a person who makes such pronouncements—for example, "a designer who is an oracle of fashion." And the related adjective oracular is used in similar contexts: "a designer who is an oracular voice of fashion."

Choose the Right Synonym for oracular

dictatorial, magisterial, dogmatic, doctrinaire, oracular mean imposing one's will or opinions on others.

dictatorial stresses autocratic, high-handed methods and a domineering manner.

exercised dictatorial control over the office

magisterial stresses assumption or use of prerogatives appropriate to a magistrate or schoolmaster in forcing acceptance of one's opinions.

the magisterial tone of his pronouncements

dogmatic implies being unduly and offensively positive in laying down principles and expressing opinions.

dogmatic about what is art and what is not

doctrinaire implies a disposition to follow abstract theories in framing laws or policies affecting people.

a doctrinaire approach to improving the economy

oracular implies the manner of one who delivers opinions in cryptic phrases or with pompous dogmatism.

a designer who is the oracular voice of fashion

Examples of oracular in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The grandeur of Boxley’s influence is conveyed by his terse, oracular speech. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026

Maybe more than the oracular feeling vaguely robotic, however, the opposite is true—that the robotic reminds us of the oracle. —Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026

Luckily, this is a worthy installment in the franchise director Denis Villeneuve helped revive, centering on the origins of the oracular group of women known as the Bene Gesserit. —Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026

OpenAI’s product solidified the oracular chatbot as the primary way the world interacts with large language models. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin oraculum

First Known Use

1631, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

oracular

adjective

orac·​u·​lar ȯ-ˈrak-yə-lər 

ə-

1

: of, relating to, or being an oracle

2

: resembling an oracle

oracularly adverb