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
Max Darrow, CBS News, 26 May 2026
The brand has its own treatment protocol with unique gestures, which are developed by education and R&D executives.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
Last year, Midea Group showcased a humanoid butler robot prototype capable of voice interaction, handshakes, gestures, dancing, and basic tool-use tasks.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 25 May 2026
Clarity Touch Drivers, which are available exclusively for macOS devices, let the user assign custom actions and shortcuts to various multi-touch gestures, ranging from everyday actions like undo, to program-specific functions like New Layer in Adobe Photoshop.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
In its search to find the language to express the truths of the moment, Rehearsals for a Revolution is not afraid to question its own gestures — to doubt itself and to be vulnerable.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 22 May 2026
But the most meaningful gestures are rarely elaborate.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 22 May 2026
Just as the novel sought to reveal how Britain abandoned veterans, this dreamy and compelling interpretation gestures at the collateral damage of Nigeria’s military.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Does our online world allow such gestures?
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 May 2026
Adam Beam, AJC.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
Sometimes, the simplest gestures are the ones that go the longest way.
—Max Darrow, CBS News, 26 May 2026
The brand has its own treatment protocol with unique gestures, which are developed by education and R&D executives.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
Last year, Midea Group showcased a humanoid butler robot prototype capable of voice interaction, handshakes, gestures, dancing, and basic tool-use tasks.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 25 May 2026
Clarity Touch Drivers, which are available exclusively for macOS devices, let the user assign custom actions and shortcuts to various multi-touch gestures, ranging from everyday actions like undo, to program-specific functions like New Layer in Adobe Photoshop.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
In its search to find the language to express the truths of the moment, Rehearsals for a Revolution is not afraid to question its own gestures — to doubt itself and to be vulnerable.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 22 May 2026
But the most meaningful gestures are rarely elaborate.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 22 May 2026
Just as the novel sought to reveal how Britain abandoned veterans, this dreamy and compelling interpretation gestures at the collateral damage of Nigeria’s military.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Does our online world allow such gestures?
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 May 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 signs of real life going on too, which is always a good thing.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Using a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer, for example, the spectral biosignatures of carbon dioxide and methane may overlap, leading to the gasses being confused with each other and signs of life being dismissed or lost.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
1 June 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
-
The performing community challenged that notion, tracing the scat-singing and gesticulations to earlier artists including Black jazz performer Baby Esther Jones and cabaret entertainer Florence Mills.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Ben-Gvir waves a large Israeli flag and tells the detainees.—
Nick Duffy,
NBC news,
20 May 2026
-
Then Boyd waves to a man passing the DJ booth window.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The Trap of Fear-Driven Job Hugging The psychological weight of rapid technological change causes many capable employees to retreat into defensive postures.—
Glenn Llopis,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
The United Arab Emirates has adopted one of the most assertive postures during the war.—
May 19,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
But your body is actually giving you signals about blood flow all day long, and temperature is the most obvious one.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2026
-
But outside experts say more work is needed to verify the pigeons navigate this way and to firm up how these signals get to the brain.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gestures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gestures. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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