as in theoretical
dealing with or expressing a quality or idea
ideograms are ideational—they are meant to suggest some general idea and not a particular word or phrase
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Recent Examples of ideational
Constructivists’ major argument is that world politics is as much ideational as material and that relations among states depend on norms as much as on military or economic power.
—
Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 31 Oct. 2025
These ideational shifts, influenced by both global narratives and local aspirations, are increasingly shaping how Indians approach relationships.
—Anuradha Gupta, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
The ideational content of the image — a man killing another man on a public sidewalk — is only half the message.
—F.k. Plous, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
This process, which Doten-Snitker and her coauthors term ideational diffusion, often took many years as people in towns and cities needed time to digest new ideas about witchcraft and turn them into behavior.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2024
Steven Spielberg extends Griffith’s and Ford’s historical insight through an astonishing mix of visual and ideational dialectics.
—Armond White, National Review, 28 June 2023
Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 31 Oct. 2025
These ideational shifts, influenced by both global narratives and local aspirations, are increasingly shaping how Indians approach relationships.
—Anuradha Gupta, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
The ideational content of the image — a man killing another man on a public sidewalk — is only half the message.
—F.k. Plous, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
This process, which Doten-Snitker and her coauthors term ideational diffusion, often took many years as people in towns and cities needed time to digest new ideas about witchcraft and turn them into behavior.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2024
Steven Spielberg extends Griffith’s and Ford’s historical insight through an astonishing mix of visual and ideational dialectics.
—Armond White, National Review, 28 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ideational
Adjective
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Palmer’s goal from open play, which involved theoretical No 10 Fernandez carrying the ball out wide, full-back Cucurella underlapping him, and Palmer finishing in the box, summed that up.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
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The partnership is shifting from theoretical research to the project development phase, with a focus on delivering a 50 MW commercial pilot.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Under this clash of Venus and Uranus, a blind spot could impact your literal plans or more metaphysical beliefs.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
8 Feb. 2026
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Suffice to say that Zi’s condition may not be a physical issue or even a mental one but, rather, a metaphysical state.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Diesel asks at the top of the spot (below), which shows footage of riders speeding through a conceptual rendering of the coaster — featuring vehicles that rotate along a course that also includes three inversions.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Feb. 2026
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My ultimate goal is to combine this conceptual part with products and do more artwork that inspires more people.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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My empathy for immigrants and refugees is not abstract.—
Valeng Cha,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
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In the 9th District, those debates are no longer abstract.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Skating is an achievement fueled by immense physical and mental stressors, financial sacrifice, and restrictive expectations that can wear on competitors for decades.—
Jasmine Wynn,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
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The competitive stamina, the physical stamina, and the mental stamina that's required in these type of games.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Mystic trust in the power of Mercury or whatever spans generations and intellectual capacities.—
Hillary Busis,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
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But these associations were purely intellectual.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ideational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ideational. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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