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
Examples of verbal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The actor will portray Dalton Kirby, a sharp radio host who influences a working-class man (Theo Rossi) with his verbal rants of fear and doom.
—
Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2024
Unlike at the presidential debate, in which the commentary on immigration devolved into sound bites and verbal jabs, Walz and Vance presented their respective campaign’s message with a congenial tone.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2024
The suspect, who already knew the victim, got into a verbal altercation with him before the shooting, police said.
—Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 1 Oct. 2024
Dame Maggie Smith, the actor known for her crisp verbal flourishes, her timely ability to arch an eyebrow, and her tart, acerbic wit, has died, per her family and publicist.
—Isobel Thompson, Vogue, 27 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for verbal 
Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2024
Unlike at the presidential debate, in which the commentary on immigration devolved into sound bites and verbal jabs, Walz and Vance presented their respective campaign’s message with a congenial tone.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2024
The suspect, who already knew the victim, got into a verbal altercation with him before the shooting, police said.
—Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 1 Oct. 2024
Dame Maggie Smith, the actor known for her crisp verbal flourishes, her timely ability to arch an eyebrow, and her tart, acerbic wit, has died, per her family and publicist.
—Isobel Thompson, Vogue, 27 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for verbal
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'verbal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Thesaurus Entries Near verbal
Cite this Entry
“Verbal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/verbal. Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share