symbolic gesture
noun
: an act that has no purpose or effect other than to show support, respect, etc.
The president's visit was mainly a symbolic gesture.
Examples of symbolic gesture in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And while the Arab Gulf states have pursued rapprochement in recent years with Iran, and are calling for de-escalation, that is largely a symbolic gesture.
—
Lina Khatib, Time, 19 June 2025
To Wu, their support of Trump signals a symbolic gesture: a longing for change.
—Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
The king, 76, is currently undergoing cancer treatment and has kept a limited schedule, but the decision to travel to Ottawa was widely seen as a symbolic gesture of support for Canada during a time of tension.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025
Some see the label as more of a symbolic gesture than a move that actually impacts people’s lives.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for symbolic gesture
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Lina Khatib, Time, 19 June 2025
To Wu, their support of Trump signals a symbolic gesture: a longing for change.
—Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
The king, 76, is currently undergoing cancer treatment and has kept a limited schedule, but the decision to travel to Ottawa was widely seen as a symbolic gesture of support for Canada during a time of tension.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025
Some see the label as more of a symbolic gesture than a move that actually impacts people’s lives.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for symbolic gesture
Cite this Entry
“Symbolic gesture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/symbolic%20gesture. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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