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 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
Marsha, Nate, and Jacob stand on the balcony as Cal begins to orate.
—Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 31 Jan. 2022
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
Marsha, Nate, and Jacob stand on the balcony as Cal begins to orate.
—Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 31 Jan. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for orate
Verb
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Trump spoke after a swearing-in ceremony for Paul Atkins as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to USA TODAY.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
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Why not speak to Tzarina and check if there would be time on Alesia’s schedule to help clean up?—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Conor Heffernan, who lectures on the history of sports and fitness at Ulster University, in Ireland, said the current vogue for biohacking, and its protein boosterism, reeks of snake oil.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
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Her quotidian life was lecturing at a college in Aberdeen, close to where she was born, and the travel and mountaineering a teacher’s schedule enables.—
Sadie Stein,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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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
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The Koreans have a lesson to share with those whose intellectuals, driven by identity and the metaphysics of difference, declaim ownership of the Enlightenment and its legacy.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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At private dinners throughout Rome and at formal gatherings of hundreds of cardinals, talk among church leaders of who will next lead the church has certainly already begun.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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And the competition has become fierce: Never in human history have there been so many people talking to so many other people for public consumption, entertainment or education, on podcasts and panels and personal appearances.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
Verb
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The lack of respect from China was clear starting in March 2021, when the senior Chinese foreign policy official Yang Jiechi harangued U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a meeting in Anchorage about promoting U.S. democracy.—
A. Wess Mitchell,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
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Several of those town halls – including in deeply Republican districts – went viral as residents harangued lawmakers over the cuts.—
Riley Beggin,
USA TODAY,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Hypothetical question sparks discourse Celebrity eaglets growing up fast as internet watches on: Meet Sunny and Gizmo Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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This is utter nonsense, and discourse about practically any new game on the market has become so toxic that staying off the internet entirely is the only way avoid it.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Orate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/orate. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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