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

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2
as in oral
made or carried on through speaking rather than in writing a verbal agreement carries less force than a written contract

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of verbal An interview panel of senior officers would weigh those results and a candidate's verbal and written communication abilities before voting on their fitness for demanding command roles. Davis Winkie, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025 Phothong is non-verbal autistic and considered at risk, according to the Sacramento Police Department. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025 Copeland and Summers go on to say that this verbal agreement was formalized and written down in 1981. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025 These are ways to create non-verbal invitations. Essence, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for verbal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for verbal
Adjective
  • The presentation explores the political, religious, linguistic, and artistic self-determination of Native peoples across the United States who are still thriving despite America’s historic agenda to erase Indigenous identity, culture, and language.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • This has been robustly demonstrated across linguistic and cultural groups.
    Howard Steele, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The Kansas City Chiefs and a small army of oral health volunteers transformed GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium into a kid-friendly dental clinic for a unique dental tailgate party.
    Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Metsera's daily oral peptide could deliver effective results as well.
    Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Nini makes no such communicative or deft movements.
    Tao Lin, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Human's closest living relatives, Chimpanzees, primarily learn their communicative patterns from their mothers and maternal relatives, according to a new study.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Whether these rhetorical jabs will resonate with voters or simply serve to inflame partisan divisions remains an open question.
    Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Just asking questions Kennedy and other MAHA proponents also employ another powerful rhetorical tactic: raising questions about topics that have already reached a scientific consensus.
    Megan Donelson, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Verbal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/verbal. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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