gestural
adjective
ges·tur·al
ˈjes-chə-rəl 
ˈjesh-
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of gestures
2
: of, relating to, or characterized by vigorous application of paint and expressive brushwork
gestural expressionism
Examples of gestural in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Loose, gestural ink drawings sit alongside still lifes of treasured objects, flea market finds are arranged like miniature stage sets, and candid snapshots of her Milan existence are collaged with painterly abandon.
—
Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 24 Mar. 2026
Where An Orange Colored Day was gestural and allusive, A Rush to Nowhere is direct.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026
The fundamental trouble with such franchise films is that the construction of character is usually no more than gestural: with all the emphasis on extravagant spectacle and on backstories in the franchise universe, there’s rarely any room for personality, experience, or knowledge.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
There’s a speaker, and a physical button, which could potentially be used to take photos or as a gestural shortcut to other commands — like waking the virtual assistant.
—Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gestural
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Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 24 Mar. 2026
Where An Orange Colored Day was gestural and allusive, A Rush to Nowhere is direct.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026
The fundamental trouble with such franchise films is that the construction of character is usually no more than gestural: with all the emphasis on extravagant spectacle and on backstories in the franchise universe, there’s rarely any room for personality, experience, or knowledge.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
There’s a speaker, and a physical button, which could potentially be used to take photos or as a gestural shortcut to other commands — like waking the virtual assistant.
—Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gestural
Cite this Entry
“Gestural.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gestural. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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