1
as in signs
a movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or feeling
a teenager who often shrugs her shoulders in a gesture of indifference
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in courtesies
an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners
sent a handwritten thank-you note as a gesture of his gratitude
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in motions
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture
the police officer gestured me to the side of the road to tell me my headlight was out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gestures
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026
Such gestures have not stopped local lawmakers from considering statewide bans on data center development.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2026
Despite some gestures at Austin exploring his half-Korean heritage through a flirtation with Park’s assistant Eunice (Seoyeon Jang), the subplot is never smoothly incorporated.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
And what is love but a series of heartfelt yet ultimately futile gestures?
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 15 Apr. 2026
His few lines of dialogue have a power that far exceeds their word count, but what speaks for Jeremy most of the time are his physical gestures, which blend blank detachment with willful ferocity.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
There is also a thoughtful kind of affection in the air that is less about grand gestures and more about shared understanding.
—Georgia Nichols, Dallas Morning News, 11 Apr. 2026
Invite connection by allowing small gestures to nourish trust.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2026
As one of many grand gestures of his love, Hal reunites with his a cappella group, The Gentlemen Callers, to serenade Lois with Bruno Mars’ ‘Locked Out of Heaven’ in the aisles of the Lucky Aide.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
Adam Beam, AJC.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
The show gestures at the classic targets of old-timey sexism, small-mindedness, and nativism—much of it embodied by Gasteyer’s scheming character—but only in the safest possible ways.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026
Such gestures have not stopped local lawmakers from considering statewide bans on data center development.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2026
Despite some gestures at Austin exploring his half-Korean heritage through a flirtation with Park’s assistant Eunice (Seoyeon Jang), the subplot is never smoothly incorporated.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
And what is love but a series of heartfelt yet ultimately futile gestures?
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 15 Apr. 2026
His few lines of dialogue have a power that far exceeds their word count, but what speaks for Jeremy most of the time are his physical gestures, which blend blank detachment with willful ferocity.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
There is also a thoughtful kind of affection in the air that is less about grand gestures and more about shared understanding.
—Georgia Nichols, Dallas Morning News, 11 Apr. 2026
Invite connection by allowing small gestures to nourish trust.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2026
As one of many grand gestures of his love, Hal reunites with his a cappella group, The Gentlemen Callers, to serenade Lois with Bruno Mars’ ‘Locked Out of Heaven’ in the aisles of the Lucky Aide.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
Health care executive Rick Jackson gestures to a supporter while qualifying to run for governor at the Georgia state Capitol last month.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gestures
Noun
-
But there are already signs that her expulsion would have some bipartisan support.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Markets, meanwhile, showed signs of fatigue.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Small courtesies keep big efforts moving forward.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
With both courtesies and catastrophes refusing to conform, the canton’s school board, publishers, and clergy were forced to produce multiple editions of primers, textbooks, and catechisms; sometimes five parallel print runs were needed for a population the size of a town.—
Simon Akam,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
But on a Sunday morning in July 1595, the groan of the heavy wooden door startled him from his gesticulations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Mar. 2026
-
There was a rush of gesticulations, with Greenberg speaking in English.—
Robert Sullivan,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Prime Minister-elect Peter Magyar waves a Hungarian flag after delivering his victory speech in Budapest on Sunday.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
19 Apr. 2026
-
At the end of the video, Williams proposes to Laufey as her guest stars watch on with vacant expressions — even as the Grammy winner waves her hands in front of their faces.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Triggers can be smells, sounds, places, postures or tones of voice.—
Dr. Andrew Garner,
Boston Herald,
12 Apr. 2026
-
On this tour, the postures struck are much fewer and farther in-between, or less planned and deliberate-seeming.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The cameras in the operations centers mostly have high-definition signals displayed on the big monitors, but the size of the files for those signals is enormous and a big burden if CDOT kept the visuals.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
January 20 – February 18 Listen to the universe’s signals.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gestures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gestures. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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