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
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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By modeling the physics behind this phenomenon, researchers discovered that the human hand’s sensitivity approaches the theoretical limit of what can be detected through mechanical reflections.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
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What Happens Next Some companies have experimented with shorter workweeks and reported gains in productivity and employee well-being, but the shift toward a widespread three-day or even four-day schedule is still largely theoretical.—
Alia Shoaib,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Beverly, a waitress who had another daughter and then a son in the two years after Smith was born (and eventually one more daughter), had little time for her eldest’s metaphysical ponderings.—
Amy Weiss-Meyer,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
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The film follows a young couple (Qualley and Starkey), who inherit a farm in rural Arkansas and must conquer the demons, both physical and metaphysical, that haunt its legacy.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Christo and Jeanne-Claude were successful, acknowledged, and respected conceptual artists.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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That’s when math gets harder and more conceptual.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Hypertension is associated with difficulties in problem-solving, planning, organizing, and multitasking, as well as abstract reasoning, working memory, and mental processing speed.—
Colleen Doherty,
Verywell Health,
6 Nov. 2025
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Our greatness will be anything but abstract.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Industry pushback and innovation concerns Some tech companies argue that such regulation could stifle innovation, limit beneficial uses of conversational AI (education, mental-health support for older teens) or impose heavy compliance burdens.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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Regular exercise can prevent the physical and mental impacts of SWSD.—
Pamela Assid,
Verywell Health,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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But if nothing changes, the future of conservative politics will see much of the anti-semitic rhetoric as a badge of intellectual honesty.—
Eli Thompson,
Rolling Stone,
8 Nov. 2025
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With that being said, when Venus squares Pluto, the clash between emotional intensity (Scorpio) and intellectual detachment (Aquarius) is undeniable.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ideational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ideational. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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