1
as in to speak
to talk as if giving an important and formal speech
given the opportunity, many politicians will orate at considerable length on just about any subject
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to lecture
to give a formal often extended talk on a subject
the respected anthropologist is expected to orate about her latest research findings before a packed auditorium
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of orate
The Open Meeting Act prohibits directors from discussing (or orating) on matters not disclosed on the agenda, per Civil Code Section 4930(a).
—
Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025
The latter went on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and orated about his marathon oration sesh last week in Congress.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Elegantly orating about universal vastness and human connection, the Chilean/French rapper’s delivery melds poetic prose with grace.
—Griselda Flores, Billboard, 21 Feb. 2025
Sheridan has an affinity for writing characters who have lots of big things to say about the world around them and their place in it; Yellowstone features hours of John Dutton solemnly orating on the subject of Montana, the ranching way of life, and the threat posed by outside interlopers.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 20 Dec. 2024
Is there a historical context where the struggle has been orated by other groups?
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2024
At the age of 3, little Malachi Lukes was orating at his school in the style of President Barack Obama.
—Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2024
The most persuasive and engrossing moment of the play comes late, when Harry Nelson is orating for his son’s benefit on the history and necessity of humankind’s relationship with firearms.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2023
Perhaps a chatbot can even orate.
—David Crary, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2023
Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025
The latter went on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and orated about his marathon oration sesh last week in Congress.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Elegantly orating about universal vastness and human connection, the Chilean/French rapper’s delivery melds poetic prose with grace.
—Griselda Flores, Billboard, 21 Feb. 2025
Sheridan has an affinity for writing characters who have lots of big things to say about the world around them and their place in it; Yellowstone features hours of John Dutton solemnly orating on the subject of Montana, the ranching way of life, and the threat posed by outside interlopers.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 20 Dec. 2024
Is there a historical context where the struggle has been orated by other groups?
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2024
At the age of 3, little Malachi Lukes was orating at his school in the style of President Barack Obama.
—Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2024
The most persuasive and engrossing moment of the play comes late, when Harry Nelson is orating for his son’s benefit on the history and necessity of humankind’s relationship with firearms.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2023
Perhaps a chatbot can even orate.
—David Crary, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for orate
Verb
-
There is division, word too dangerous to be spoken to.—
Anne Waldman
August 14,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Religious leaders from various faiths attend and speak at the event each year, the Imam said.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Two hours later, she was heard lecturing the children.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
16 July 2025
-
The single most on-the-nose sequence — though there are many — has an unrestrained Christopher Lloyd as a Holocaust survivor conveniently situated to lecture young Clay about the genocidal reality of his experience.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
Yours to treasure: to recite under your breath, to whisper in someone’s ear, to declaim at a party.—
A.O. Scott,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
-
Does Joyce’s fellow drama kid Alan (Eric Wiegand) hoist a skull aloft and declaim some Shakespeare in a bad English accent?—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Altman and lesser personalities in the AI space often talk this way, making extreme, matter-of-fact proclamations about the future and sounding like kids playing a strategy game.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
18 Aug. 2025
-
One way was talking to journalists who hadn’t covered ’98.—
Maer Roshan,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The White House spent the first part of this week downplaying speculation that the president would fire Powell, even as Trump continued to harangue him on social media for leaving interest rates unchanged.—
Steve Kopack,
NBC news,
24 July 2025
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Weeks after that House hearing, the Fed lowered rates a quarter point, but Trump kept haranguing and insulting Powell, calling for even more easing.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
19 July 2025
Verb
-
The cycle can become so accidentally ubiquitous that the former kids who blissfully existed outside of whatever discourses these trends or bands started in their heyday wonder now, as adults, what was so bad about them in the first place.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
21 July 2025
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Admissions officers want to see that students will contribute meaningfully to discourse on campus.—
Christopher Rim,
Forbes.com,
17 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Orate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/orate. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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