ORAL Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

oral

adjective

ˈȯr-əl

Definition of oral

as in vocal

expressed or communicated by voice a baby's crying is usually interpreted as an oral expression of distress

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in verbal

made or carried on through speaking rather than in writing lawyers for the plaintiff will be presenting oral arguments before the Supreme Court next week

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of oral In a study of Babbel users by researchers at Yale University, 100% improved their oral proficiency in three months. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026 The number of emergency applications now rivals the annual tally of cases the justices consider with full briefing and oral arguments, Alito wrote in a new book released Tuesday. — Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026 How hair supplements work The oral-versus-topical distinction matters more than most marketing lets on. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026 The participants had no active oral disease and blood pressure at or below 140/90, which is considered high. — Christina Manian, HEALTH, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for oral

Recent Examples of Synonyms for oral

Adjective

The South London artist channels Disney soundtrack tropes into claustrophobic strings and drones, while a handful of vocal tracks hint darkly at real-world family drama.

— Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026
Best Pop Solo Performance can be a space where the Recording Academy recognizes — and perhaps awards — artists with songs that truly connect with the world, regardless of vocal chops.

— Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of vocal

Adjective

The cycle of domestic violence can sometimes start with verbal criticism, followed by physical abuse, and then an apology, according to experts.

— Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
Serra then analogizes the spatial mediation stimulated by Shift to a verbal operation.

— Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of verbal

Adjective

For Salvadoran-American food historian Karla Tatiana Vasquez, what started as a quest to document the recipes of her past transformed into the preservation of history from the spoken accounts of grandmothers, mothers and friends.

— Candy Hom, AJC.com, 4 Oct. 2026
Suno is branching out from the world of AI music, launching a new feature that generates spoken voices based on scripts or prompted descriptions.

— Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of spoken

Adjective

Sanders, who co-directed the original movie and voiced Stitch, reprised his voice-over role in the 2025 update.

— Justin Kroll, Deadline, 23 July 2025
Several cast members returned, including co-writer and co-director Chris Sanders, who created and voiced Stitch.

— Jordana Comiter, People.com, 24 May 2025

Definition of voiced

Adjective

For all their speed-to-market and trend obsessions, fashion companies struggle to update the systems and materials that go into their products, meaning churn reigns and improvements are consigned to that oft-uttered utopian destination known as ‘when there’s time’.

— Brooke Roberts-Islam, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Each line encourages a body to shift when uttered or even when read silently to oneself.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026

Definition of uttered

Browse Nearby Words

oracular

oral

orate

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“Oral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oral. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of oral

adjective

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