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 Police stated that shots were fired among a group of men in a verbal argument, and the victims were three men and a woman who suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 21 May 2025 Secretary of State Marco Rubio got into a verbal altercation with Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) on Tuesday during his hearing with the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 20 May 2025 In addition, some children with autism may regress from their usual rate of acquiring verbal communication skills after age 2.1 3. Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 14 May 2025 He was released with a verbal warning on both occasions. Jessica Sager, People.com, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for verbal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for verbal
Adjective
  • This strident belief that languages shape our thinking is referred to as the linguistic relativity hypothesis, which is also informally known as Whorfianism, see my detailed discussion at the link here.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • Critics argue that the rules prohibit linguistic evolution and self-expression.
    Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
Adjective
  • Approximately 25 years ago, the president of a communications company that specialized in oral presentations invited me, along with about 20 other small business owners, to a demonstration.
    Lynne Agress, Baltimore Sun, 26 May 2025
  • On the substance of the issue, oral arguments underscored what everyone who knows and appreciates the presence of charter schools should well understand.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • Those transported to the hospital were conscious and communicative at the time of transport, according to Diablo Valley College.
    Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 24 May 2025
  • Jen is super communicative, popular, and wise, linking her spiritual vibe with the Air sign.
    Lisa Stardust, People.com, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • Despite rhetorical nods to sovereignty, the Trump administration has showed little interest in backing most independence movements, like those of the Kurds, throughout the Middle East, or the Catalans, in Spain.
    Ryan D. Griffiths, Foreign Affairs, 20 May 2025
  • This kind of rhetorical whiplash doesn’t sit right.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Verbal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/verbal. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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