as in theoretical
dealing with or expressing a quality or idea
ideograms are ideational—they are meant to suggest some general idea and not a particular word or phrase
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Recent Examples of ideational
Constructivists’ major argument is that world politics is as much ideational as material and that relations among states depend on norms as much as on military or economic power.
—
Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 31 Oct. 2025
These ideational shifts, influenced by both global narratives and local aspirations, are increasingly shaping how Indians approach relationships.
—Anuradha Gupta, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
The ideational content of the image — a man killing another man on a public sidewalk — is only half the message.
—F.k. Plous, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
This process, which Doten-Snitker and her coauthors term ideational diffusion, often took many years as people in towns and cities needed time to digest new ideas about witchcraft and turn them into behavior.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2024
Steven Spielberg extends Griffith’s and Ford’s historical insight through an astonishing mix of visual and ideational dialectics.
—Armond White, National Review, 28 June 2023
Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 31 Oct. 2025
These ideational shifts, influenced by both global narratives and local aspirations, are increasingly shaping how Indians approach relationships.
—Anuradha Gupta, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
The ideational content of the image — a man killing another man on a public sidewalk — is only half the message.
—F.k. Plous, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
This process, which Doten-Snitker and her coauthors term ideational diffusion, often took many years as people in towns and cities needed time to digest new ideas about witchcraft and turn them into behavior.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2024
Steven Spielberg extends Griffith’s and Ford’s historical insight through an astonishing mix of visual and ideational dialectics.
—Armond White, National Review, 28 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ideational
Adjective
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For Jewish leaders, the threat is no longer theoretical.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Mar. 2026
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Where previous editions treated AI with theoretical enthusiasm, this year’s market found practitioners speaking in more practical, and sometimes cautious, terms.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The movie addresses metaphysical questions such as the egregore of a generation, the nature of evil, and the search for God in times of His absence.—
PhotoVogue,
Vogue,
19 Mar. 2026
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The most fundamental consequences of being struck by lightning are often metaphysical, and not easily communicable.—
Jacob Stern,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Red Rock presented a revised conceptual site plan to Rowan County Department of Planning & Development.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
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An early conceptual plan the team submitted to the city shows how its designers plan to connect local streets through the site.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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For Michael Baer, a 59-year-old from Scottsdale, Arizona, the idea of being politically caught in the middle did not feel abstract.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Mar. 2026
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One, affordability is not just an abstract issue but a life-or-death situation for New Yorkers around the state, who should not be expected to pick between heating or cooling their homes in extreme weather and the ability to put food on the table.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The act provides ways for a victim to seek relief from being harmed by doxing, or the act of intentionally using another’s personally identifiable information, including social media profiles, without consent with the intent to harass, cause mental anguish or create fear of bodily harm or death.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
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De-stress on a daily basis to help your mental and emotional battery.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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What does this mean for the future of a key American intellectual tradition?—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
20 Mar. 2026
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The product of two lovely, supportive and intellectual Jewish parents, Peaches is the youngest of three.—
Katherine Turman,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ideational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ideational. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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