hieratic
adjective
hi·er·at·ic
ˌhī-(ə-)ˈra-tik 
1
: constituting or belonging to a cursive form of ancient Egyptian writing simpler than the hieroglyphic
2
3
: highly stylized or formal
hieratic poses
Examples of hieratic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sienese painting represents a rupture in world art, breaking from Gothic flatness and hieratic Byzantine art.
—
Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024
The men performing the task of mixing moved with slow hieratic movements of great deliberation.
—Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 21 June 2024
The team also recovered amulets, pottery tools and ostraca—pieces of pottery—that feature hieratic inscriptions, or cursive hieroglyphics.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Jan. 2024
Yet in the course of their recurring encounters, William—in effect, a hidden prophet—delivers a hieratic word to Anthony about the Candyman tale, one that links up again with the 1992 film.
—Richard Brod, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2021
Greek is the second-most represented script; hieratic, hieroglyphics, Greek, Arabic, and Coptic (an Egyptian dialect written in the Greek alphabet) also appear, testifying to Athribis’ multicultural history, per Science Alert.
—Jane Recker, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Feb. 2022
Using more of the petticoat’s crin to create a hieratic hat, Magugu likens the piece to a Nefertiti headdress.
—Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2022
Ray films musical and dramatic scenes alike with dissonant clashes of elements in unbalanced compositions, sculptural gestures, and hieratic poses.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2021
At the same time, its static, hieratic text, derived largely from ancient Egyptian and Akkadian sources, lies far outside the operatic norm, and makes most American librettos of recent decades look bland.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2021
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Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024
The men performing the task of mixing moved with slow hieratic movements of great deliberation.
—Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 21 June 2024
The team also recovered amulets, pottery tools and ostraca—pieces of pottery—that feature hieratic inscriptions, or cursive hieroglyphics.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Jan. 2024
Yet in the course of their recurring encounters, William—in effect, a hidden prophet—delivers a hieratic word to Anthony about the Candyman tale, one that links up again with the 1992 film.
—Richard Brod, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2021
Greek is the second-most represented script; hieratic, hieroglyphics, Greek, Arabic, and Coptic (an Egyptian dialect written in the Greek alphabet) also appear, testifying to Athribis’ multicultural history, per Science Alert.
—Jane Recker, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Feb. 2022
Using more of the petticoat’s crin to create a hieratic hat, Magugu likens the piece to a Nefertiti headdress.
—Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2022
Ray films musical and dramatic scenes alike with dissonant clashes of elements in unbalanced compositions, sculptural gestures, and hieratic poses.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2021
At the same time, its static, hieratic text, derived largely from ancient Egyptian and Akkadian sources, lies far outside the operatic norm, and makes most American librettos of recent decades look bland.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Hieratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hieratic. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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