as in gesturing
to move your arms and hands especially when speaking in an angry or emotional way
He was gesticulating wildly during his speech.
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Recent Examples of gesticulating
The video, without sound, shows the three of them gesticulating at each other before the 13-year-old in red pants appears to charge David and stab him.
—
Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2026
Bess finally blurted out, gesticulating and knocking over her glass of wine just as Sam opened a new bottle.
—Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026
In preschool, he was given a wordless role as Farmer McGregor in a school production of Peter Rabbit and began hamming it up, counting the missing tomatoes and gesticulating at his nemesis rabbit.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Their remaining team-mates applauded the away enclosure, but many in that section were gesticulating their disdain.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2026
Bess finally blurted out, gesticulating and knocking over her glass of wine just as Sam opened a new bottle.
—Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026
In preschool, he was given a wordless role as Farmer McGregor in a school production of Peter Rabbit and began hamming it up, counting the missing tomatoes and gesticulating at his nemesis rabbit.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Their remaining team-mates applauded the away enclosure, but many in that section were gesticulating their disdain.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gesticulating
Verb
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Last night’s caution for gesturing to referee Jarred Gillett that West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville should be booked left head coach Rob Edwards with a problem.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2026
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The two talked for more than 10 minutes, taking turns gesturing pointedly.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The area was gridlocked with traffic, with people coming back to check on their homes and Hezbollah supporters zooming on scooters, waving the group’s flag.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
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The suspect drove through several freeways while waving at officers before entering the 91 Freeway in the Downey-Norwalk area to make his way to LA County.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Moore responded to the judge by nodding, while his wife’s eyes welled with tears in the courtroom’s front row.—
Larry Lage,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
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In chilling videos from the sentencing, Alyssa — who has an undisclosed mental illness, according to her defense attorney — was seen smiling at the judge and nodding toward her attorneys.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gesticulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gesticulating. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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