as in rhetoric
marked by the use of impressive-sounding but mostly meaningless words and phrases
a speech that was an oratorical endorsement of the value of education but one that refused to call for greater spending on education
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Recent Examples of oratorical
Not merely because of his superior oratorical pizazz but also his remarkable style.
—
Julian Randall, Essence, 4 Dec. 2024
Yes, but: Some Democrats argue that the debate will be less of a referendum on oratorical skill and more of a clash of two different styles and worldviews.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 1 Oct. 2024
Trump’s general-election debates have not exactly been the stuff of oratorical legend.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 14 Sep. 2024
The low-key packaging of such a high-value endorsement also suggests that the Obamas, both of whom are powerful speakers, may be waiting for the right moment to deploy their oratorical skills for maximum impact.
—Christina Wilkie, CNBC, 26 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for oratorical
Julian Randall, Essence, 4 Dec. 2024
Yes, but: Some Democrats argue that the debate will be less of a referendum on oratorical skill and more of a clash of two different styles and worldviews.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 1 Oct. 2024
Trump’s general-election debates have not exactly been the stuff of oratorical legend.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 14 Sep. 2024
The low-key packaging of such a high-value endorsement also suggests that the Obamas, both of whom are powerful speakers, may be waiting for the right moment to deploy their oratorical skills for maximum impact.
—Christina Wilkie, CNBC, 26 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for oratorical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oratorical
rhetorical
Adjective
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Trump and Carter are hardly the first pair of presidents to pour rhetorical oil on troubled waters, but the historical results, as with today, are mixed at best.—
Bruce Yandle,
Twin Cities,
10 July 2025
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By asking Grok to use X posts as a primary source and rhetorical inspiration, xAI is sending the large language model into a toxic landscape where trolls, political propagandists, and outright racists are some of the loudest voices.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oratorical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oratorical. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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