1
as in linguistic
of or relating to words or language
the child didn't yet have the verbal skills needed to tell the doctor about the pain he was experiencing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in oral
made or carried on through speaking rather than in writing
a verbal agreement carries less force than a written contract
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of verbal
Investigators say the victim was working as a rideshare driver and had just dropped off passengers when a verbal dispute occurred that escalated into gunfire.
—
Christopher Harris, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
During the incident, according to authorities, the man is accused of making a verbal threat to another adult, and after the person signed a complaint against him, the man was arrested and charged.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
The verbal dispute led to name-calling and an invitation to fight.
—Dale Denwalt, Oklahoman, 5 Mar. 2026
Trust me, this curler bagged me Toby, the barely verbal trad husband of my dreams.
—Fiona Landers, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for verbal
Christopher Harris, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
During the incident, according to authorities, the man is accused of making a verbal threat to another adult, and after the person signed a complaint against him, the man was arrested and charged.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
The verbal dispute led to name-calling and an invitation to fight.
—Dale Denwalt, Oklahoman, 5 Mar. 2026
Trust me, this curler bagged me Toby, the barely verbal trad husband of my dreams.
—Fiona Landers, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for verbal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for verbal
Adjective
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In Turkey, Kurdish people make up the largest ethnic and linguistic minority, amounting to roughly 20% of the population.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
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Geographic and linguistic frameworks constrain movement; temporal frameworks constrain belonging.—
Anel Rakhimzhanova,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
During oral argument, all three Court of Appeals judges expressed concern about the fairness of her sentence and highlighted how the district court judge’s political statements made about Peters may have unfairly and unconstitutionally influenced her sentencing.—
Doug Friednash,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
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Novo Nordisk released a new, oral version of its GLP-1 weight loss drug Wegovy earlier this year.—
Alex Hogan,
STAT,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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From the get-go, Vespaio was incredibly kind and communicative when planning our rehearsal dinner.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Feb. 2026
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The steering, though somewhat isolated due to the car’s grand-touring disposition, feels communicative enough to enable and encourage rather spirited cornering.—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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While both candidates held progressive policy positions on issues like healthcare, the difference between them centered on communication style, with Talarico’s softer rhetorical approach resonating with voters through appeals to unity and a vision of hope[1].—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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Talarico is a vision of a Democratic future reminiscent of high points from the Party’s recent past—rhetorical precision, hopes, dreams.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Verbal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/verbal. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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