oral

adjective

ˈȯr-əl How to pronounce oral (audio)
Definition of oralnext
1
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
2
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Research from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine frames oral health as integral to overall healthcare and healthy aging. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026 Intended for short, procedural orders, the justices have instead been using the docket to make substantive legal decisions with perfunctory orders that offer thin or zero legal reasoning, after minimal briefing and, often, no oral argument. — Henry Gass, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Oct. 2026 Earlier research that followed people for a year after switching from an injectable GLP-1 (either semaglutide or tirzepatide) to the oral GLP-1 pill Foundayo (orforglipron) found that subjects regained 2 to 11 lb within a year. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 30 Sep. 2026 The Danish drugmaker has licensed from Hengrui Pharma a once-weekly, oral GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist that is ready for Phase 1 clinical development. — Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for oral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oral
  1. vocal
  2. verbal
  3. spoken
  4. voiced
  5. uttered
Adjective
  • The vocal and acting prowess of the cast stands out, in a large-scale production that matches the level of major international musicals.
    — Franchesca Guim, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
  • El-Sayed, a former Michigan health official, has been vocal about healthcare issues along the campaign trail, speaking frequently about Medicare For All alongside a push to get money out of politics and a focus on affordability issues more broadly.
    — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of vocal
Adjective
  • The analogy resonates, but Ming-Trent — who found confidence in the verbal and intellectual bravado of Shakespeare — seems to have embraced only half the equation that made those artists great.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Garlin was accused by members of the cast and crew of inappropriate verbal conduct, unwanted physical contact, including hugging and touching, and behavior that some employees described as creating an uncomfortable work environment.
    — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of verbal
Adjective
  • On the other hand, the call sheet reads like a who’s who of modern musical theater; a company of vocalists so talented that limiting their range to the spoken word is akin to gathering the world’s Olympians and asking them all to play badminton.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2026
  • O’Connell, a soft-spoken man with a keen eye for detail, previously taught woodworking at North Kansas City High School for 27 years while flipping houses during the summers.
    — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 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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Cite this Entry

“Oral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oral. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on oral

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oral

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