as in theoretical
dealing with or expressing a quality or idea
ideograms are ideational—they are meant to suggest some general idea and not a particular word or phrase
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ideational
These ideational shifts, influenced by both global narratives and local aspirations, are increasingly shaping how Indians approach relationships.
—
Anuradha Gupta, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
The ideational content of the image — a man killing another man on a public sidewalk — is only half the message.
—F.k. Plous, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
This process, which Doten-Snitker and her coauthors term ideational diffusion, often took many years as people in towns and cities needed time to digest new ideas about witchcraft and turn them into behavior.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2024
The United States, of course, cannot share everything—physical or ideational—with its partners.
—Thomas G. Mahnken, Foreign Affairs, 5 June 2024
Steven Spielberg extends Griffith’s and Ford’s historical insight through an astonishing mix of visual and ideational dialectics.
—Armond White, National Review, 28 June 2023
Einstein’s theories as ideational relativism.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 3 May 2021
Anuradha Gupta, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
The ideational content of the image — a man killing another man on a public sidewalk — is only half the message.
—F.k. Plous, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
This process, which Doten-Snitker and her coauthors term ideational diffusion, often took many years as people in towns and cities needed time to digest new ideas about witchcraft and turn them into behavior.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2024
The United States, of course, cannot share everything—physical or ideational—with its partners.
—Thomas G. Mahnken, Foreign Affairs, 5 June 2024
Steven Spielberg extends Griffith’s and Ford’s historical insight through an astonishing mix of visual and ideational dialectics.
—Armond White, National Review, 28 June 2023
Einstein’s theories as ideational relativism.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 3 May 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ideational
Adjective
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Proof in the Numbers The cost savings claims are not theoretical.—
Jon Stojan,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
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But at the moment, so many of these benefits are theoretical.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Her poetry carries it all—the metaphysical, the flirtatious, the unsettling, the provocative— all in such miniscule space.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
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Yoga and sound baths set the tone, but the property also offers a roster of metaphysical experiences for those curious for something more.—
Susmita Baral,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Maybe less conceptual freedom, but more freedom to take risks.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
25 Oct. 2025
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The case studies featured in Unleashed Potential punctuate the conceptual and turn it into literal.—
Essence,
Essence,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Kaish’s abstract collages certainly seem to incorporate their shapes.—
Grace Edquist,
Vogue,
23 Oct. 2025
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There were organza gowns adorned with miniature pastel rosettes and puff-sleeve pink frocks with abstract floral appliqués for the princess.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
His attorneys asserted that the incident was a tragic misunderstanding, fueled by his poor mental state, and that Emerson never intended to harm anyone on board.—
Maddie Garfinkle,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
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Bence is an occupational therapist with a range of work experience in mental healthcare settings.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This is social, political, and intellectual history rolled into one.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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What America is experiencing now is the feature presentation, a systematic, full-frontal assault on our nation’s cultural and intellectual life.—
Andrew Weinstein,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ideational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ideational. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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