1
as in linguistic
of or relating to words or language the child didn't yet have the verbal skills needed to tell the doctor about the pain he was experiencing

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2
as in oral
made or carried on through speaking rather than in writing a verbal agreement carries less force than a written contract

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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 verbal The verbal exchanges between O’Steen and Bangs during his time on the stand were, at times, tense. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025 Miller said her children are high-functioning and verbal. Fred Clasen-Kelly, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025 In contrast, traditional methods like verbal reassurance or security primes without touch did not alleviate jealousy. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 Fortunately, Kason was able to respond to verbal commands when he was taken off sedation, KPRC reported. Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for verbal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for verbal
Adjective
  • The film casted exclusively from theater groups across different states to represent the linguistic diversity found in Indian prisons.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The right is being horrifyingly plain in bleating their bigotry, but they’re also lost in linguistic obscurities.
    James Folta, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The Kansas City Chiefs and a small army of oral health volunteers transformed GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium into a kid-friendly dental clinic for a unique dental tailgate party.
    Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Metsera's daily oral peptide could deliver effective results as well.
    Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The issue is that when touch is used purely for stimulation, this deeper communicative function is often overlooked.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Making sure leaders are accessible and communicative doesn’t end after onboarding.
    Roula Amire, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Whether these rhetorical jabs will resonate with voters or simply serve to inflame partisan divisions remains an open question.
    Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Just asking questions Kennedy and other MAHA proponents also employ another powerful rhetorical tactic: raising questions about topics that have already reached a scientific consensus.
    Megan Donelson, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Verbal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/verbal. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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