Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

oral

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of oral

1 expressed or communicated by voice

  • a babyʼs crying is usually interpreted as an oral expression of distress
Synonyms of oral

spoken, uttered, vocal, voiced
Words Related to oral

articulated, enunciated, pronounced, sonant

breathed, chirped, drawled, gasped, intoned, mouthed, mumbled, murmured, muttered, purred, shouted, spluttered, sputtered, squeaked, whispered
Near Antonyms of oral

inarticulate

mute, quiet, silent

unexpressed, unsaid, unspoken, unuttered, unvoiced

surd, voiceless
Antonyms of oral

nonvocal

2 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 of oral

nuncupative, spoken, unwritten, verbal, viva voce, word-of-mouth
Words Related to oral

consensual, implicit, informal

articulated, verbalized

given, pronounced, said, sounded, stated, told, voiced
Near Antonyms of oral

explicit, formal
Antonyms of oral

paper, written

Learn More about oral

  1. Dictionary: Definition of oral Medical Dictionary: Definition of oral Spanish Central: Translation of oral Nglish: Translation of oral for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of oral for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oral

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up oral? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games