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 The idea is that the mineral absorbs through the skin and delivers the same benefits as an oral supplement. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Aug. 2026 While oral magnesium supplementation has research backing as a way to raise daily intake, the same body of work indicates there is no research showing transdermal magnesium has the same effect, according to Everyday Health. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026 As such, getting rid of polio for good necessitates countries switching from the oral vaccine to the shot. — Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026 But since oral arguments were made in March, the DOJ has taken a different approach to other subpoenas, concentrating its efforts in a Texas district court with a strong conservative reputation. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for oral

Recent Examples of Synonyms for oral

Adjective

As a neo-New Wave guy with a heartland jones and drama-king chops, Flowers isn’t bad cosplaying his heroes, even if his brawny rock-opera vocal approach is a bit short on the conversational warmth that makes for truly memorable country singing.

— Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026
The Guatemalan epidemic has been traced back to a gathering in Santiago Atitlán in December 2025 that was organized by a Christian megachurch whose leaders have been vocal about their anti-vaccine views.

— Kathryn H. Jacobsen, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of vocal

Adjective

In its breathless finale, Curry races through the mansion reconstructing every murder, flinging himself through doors and corridors while maintaining the verbal precision of a stage actor performing at double speed.

— Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
During a verbal exchange with Sky guard Natasha Cloud in the third quarter, Kanter Freedom stepped over photographers to encroach on the baseline during a dead ball.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of verbal

Adjective

Donalds’ spoken acceptance of the inevitability of massive data centers, and their support for his candidacy, is one of his biggest political liabilities.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
That experience in the mid-1990s sent the soft-spoken Rousseau, who had spent his career in public policy, on a quest to review the county’s education system and political power structure.

— Tamar Hallerman, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of spoken

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

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oracular

oral

orate

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Style

“Oral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oral. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of oral

adjective

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