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
Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
An introductory section designed by Studio Adrien Gardère will spotlight the savoir-faire of Le19M’s 11 resident maisons d’art, focusing on the gestures, tools, materials and creative processes that define them.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 23 June 2026
Sometimes support does not come in the form of grand gestures.
—Gary MacNamara, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2026
Grand gestures become less attractive, especially when compared to consistency and accountability.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026
Small, thoughtful gestures—like a family outing or surprise envelopes—can make your child feel celebrated.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 21 June 2026
And while a lot of organizations strive for a family-like culture, the Rays embody it with gestures like the one for McClanahan.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 21 June 2026
But sometimes there are grand gestures, too, like the dad who walked 30 miles through hurricane wreckage to make it to his daughter’s wedding.
—Sydney Page, Washington Post, 20 June 2026
The architectural gestures are classic and direct — symmetry, height, proportion — while the materials and finish work do the heavy lifting.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
Adam Beam, AJC.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
Against the home’s cleaner architectural lines, Burle Marx’s individual plantings read as painterly gestures, flashes of form and texture that give the grounds their modernist rhythm.
—Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
An introductory section designed by Studio Adrien Gardère will spotlight the savoir-faire of Le19M’s 11 resident maisons d’art, focusing on the gestures, tools, materials and creative processes that define them.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 23 June 2026
Sometimes support does not come in the form of grand gestures.
—Gary MacNamara, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2026
Grand gestures become less attractive, especially when compared to consistency and accountability.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026
Small, thoughtful gestures—like a family outing or surprise envelopes—can make your child feel celebrated.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 21 June 2026
And while a lot of organizations strive for a family-like culture, the Rays embody it with gestures like the one for McClanahan.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 21 June 2026
But sometimes there are grand gestures, too, like the dad who walked 30 miles through hurricane wreckage to make it to his daughter’s wedding.
—Sydney Page, Washington Post, 20 June 2026
The architectural gestures are classic and direct — symmetry, height, proportion — while the materials and finish work do the heavy lifting.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 12 June 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
-
And the deals extend well beyond skin care, with discounts on hair and makeup products that address everything from early signs of thinning hair and sparse brows to dull complexions in need of a natural-looking flush.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
23 June 2026
-
Chopper 4 flew over the detention center and observed no visible signs that the facility was being dismantled.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
23 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
Verb
-
Paula waves off a call from Geri about next steps and settles in to make guacamole.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
24 June 2026
-
Not to the American fan who calls it soccer, waves the flag and doesn't apologize for loving his country.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2026
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
Noun
-
The optimism in markets Monday could still prove premature, as negotiations over the strait and attack postures in the broader region remain fluid.—
Rob Wile,
NBC news,
22 June 2026
-
Spending time in challenging postures under high heat (105 degrees) and humidity can build strength, balance, and endurance.—
Paula Chesley,
STAT,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
The Federal Aviation Administration published a Notice to Airmen ahead of time warning any pilots flying into the area that the military would be jamming GPS signals, so aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo said the medevac pilots should have been prepared to rely on other navigation systems.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
-
But the global energy markets are much more financialized than the markets for most economic goods, and quick to respond with price signals that are more immediately actionable, prompting market participants to begin to adapt much sooner.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gestures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gestures. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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