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
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
City Councilmembers Scott Robbins, Keith Rodgers, David Jenkins and Cody Bass (who also made headlines Monday after authorities arrested him in connection to a verbal and physical assault in Nevada) all did not respond to a request for comment.
—
Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2025
However, the Chinese fighter jet pilot did not give any verbal reply and shadowed the Aurora for another half an hour.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
After years of working as a sugar baby and dancing in strip clubs, harassment—verbal, physical, casual—wasn’t shocking.
—Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
Police arrested Myairah Carter, 25, on a charge of homicide, accused of fatally gunning down 26-year-old Rayon Williams during a verbal altercation, WPXI reported.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for verbal
Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2025
However, the Chinese fighter jet pilot did not give any verbal reply and shadowed the Aurora for another half an hour.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
After years of working as a sugar baby and dancing in strip clubs, harassment—verbal, physical, casual—wasn’t shocking.
—Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
Police arrested Myairah Carter, 25, on a charge of homicide, accused of fatally gunning down 26-year-old Rayon Williams during a verbal altercation, WPXI reported.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for verbal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for verbal
Adjective
-
Terao Tetsuya’s linguistic landscape expands at times beyond Mandarin to draw on Japanese and Taiwanese Hokkien.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Behind these numbers are fewer opportunities for heritage speakers to study their family’s language, fewer pipelines training K–12 teachers, and fewer chances for students at public universities to gain access to the linguistic skills global employers demand.—
Annie K. Lamar,
Mercury News,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The oral liquid drugs were found to contain higher levels of diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic ingredient that can lead to serious injury or death, especially in children, according to the agency.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Cavities and Tooth Erosion Drinking both types of soda can negatively impact your oral health.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Whitney Decker told the detective her ex-husband had always been communicative about their children and previously returned them when he was supposed to.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Communicate And Collaborate On AI Usage Rules Be collaborative and communicative.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But Chicago and New York are Democratic strongholds and frequent targets of the president’s rhetorical ire, so the moves on spending are plainly perceived as a new front in the shutdown battle.—
Niall Stanage,
The Hill,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Every argument has a rational, emotional, and rhetorical component.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Verbal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/verbal. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share