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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ideational
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
The United States, of course, cannot share everything—physical or ideational—with its partners.
—Thomas G. Mahnken, Foreign Affairs, 5 June 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
Einstein’s theories as ideational relativism.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 3 May 2021
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
The United States, of course, cannot share everything—physical or ideational—with its partners.
—Thomas G. Mahnken, Foreign Affairs, 5 June 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
Einstein’s theories as ideational relativism.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 3 May 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ideational
Adjective
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Doorman highlights more recent scholarship that argues that this is an oversimplification of what were larger theoretical differences between the movement’s two founders.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The York study is theoretical, rather than observation-based.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Her poetry carries it all—the metaphysical, the flirtatious, the unsettling, the provocative— all in such miniscule space.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
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Yoga and sound baths set the tone, but the property also offers a roster of metaphysical experiences for those curious for something more.—
Susmita Baral,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Huang Yong Ping, the founder of the movement, along with major conceptual artists such as Geng Jianyi, Yin Xiuzhen and Shi Yong, all fell under the spell of Fluxus and carved out a unique position for the cohort within the international avant-garde.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
10 Oct. 2025
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Mothersbaugh, a conceptual artist and composer, co-founded the rock group DEVO and has scored 150 films, television shows, video games and hundreds of commercials through his multimedia company, Mutato Muzika.—
Kimberly Nordyke,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Now, the company has launched Wings—a collection of mostly fine jewelry that’s less literal and more abstract.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
15 Oct. 2025
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One look was a pair of loose-fitting ivory denim jeans with double zippers in front and an abstract expressionist design splattered all over.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Led by Zurich, played by Trevor Jackson, the group is pushed to their mental and physical limits while trying to maintain their grades, relationships, and sense of self.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
16 Oct. 2025
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However, mental preparation is equally important, says Erin Bartlett, education coordinator at Horne Lake Caves on Vancouver Island.—
Heide Brandes,
AFAR Media,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Biederman’s against-the-grain distaste for excess capital isn’t just intellectual or financial.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
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Advertisement The intellectual underpinnings to the circular economy approach have been around for decades.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ideational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ideational. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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