1
as in speech
the art of speaking in public eloquently and effectively
a presidential hopeful with a gift for oratory and a highly charismatic personality
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in rhetoric
language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere
the politician's oratory sounded good only to people who didn't bother to think
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oratory
Known for his extraordinary oratory skills, everyone who has been around Levy has a story to tell about his Marvisms and motivational speeches.
—
Tim Graham, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
Her brand at the time was something like the Obama of the antipodes: a liberal media darling, icon of the global anti-Trump resistance, transitioning smoothly from lofty oratory to easygoing relatability.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Hugo would likely have been repelled and fascinated by Trump’s demagoguery, his rambling mendacity, his grammatically illogical but easy-to-follow oratory.
—Graham Robb, The Atlantic, 9 June 2025
After escaping from slavery in Maryland in 1838, Douglass became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York and gained fame for his oratory and incisive antislavery writings.
—New Atlas, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for oratory
Tim Graham, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
Her brand at the time was something like the Obama of the antipodes: a liberal media darling, icon of the global anti-Trump resistance, transitioning smoothly from lofty oratory to easygoing relatability.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Hugo would likely have been repelled and fascinated by Trump’s demagoguery, his rambling mendacity, his grammatically illogical but easy-to-follow oratory.
—Graham Robb, The Atlantic, 9 June 2025
After escaping from slavery in Maryland in 1838, Douglass became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York and gained fame for his oratory and incisive antislavery writings.
—New Atlas, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for oratory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oratory
Noun
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Federal prosecutors argued in opening statements that the messages went beyond angry rhetoric or political speech and represented a deliberate attempt to solicit violence against a federal law enforcement official.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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The European Union’s defense commissioner raised the prospect of a 100-thousand strong European army in a January speech, an idea previously dismissed as unworkable and political unacceptable in the bloc.—
Clare Sebastian,
CNN Money,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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As Sweden’s canon debate attests, such rhetoric remains part of the global right-wing playbook.—
Colton Valentine,
New Yorker,
24 Jan. 2026
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But his other harsh rhetoric in relation to the Arctic territory and NATO allies is still reverberating across the alliance.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Players understanding the play calls filtered through his thick Southern elocution.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
28 July 2025
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The delightful elocution of their dry-as-martini witticisms (dialect coach Nancy Carlin) adds to the joys of this period piece.—
Karen D'Souza,
The Mercury News,
25 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Goldberg also spoke out on the air against Charlie Kirk's assassin in September, after the conservative commentator was killed during a public speaking event on a college campus in Utah earlier this year.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Dec. 2025
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Toastmasters meetings help participants improve public speaking, communication and professional presentation skills.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oratory. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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