oracular

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective oracular contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of oracular are dictatorial, doctrinaire, dogmatic, and magisterial. While all these words mean "imposing one's will or opinions on others," oracular implies the manner of one who delivers opinions in cryptic phrases or with pompous dogmatism.

a designer who is the oracular voice of fashion

When could dictatorial be used to replace oracular?

The meanings of dictatorial and oracular largely overlap; however, dictatorial stresses autocratic, high-handed methods and a domineering manner.

exercised dictatorial control over the office

Where would doctrinaire be a reasonable alternative to oracular?

Although the words doctrinaire and oracular have much in common, doctrinaire implies a disposition to follow abstract theories in framing laws or policies affecting people.

a doctrinaire approach to improving the economy

When is dogmatic a more appropriate choice than oracular?

The words dogmatic and oracular can be used in similar contexts, but dogmatic implies being unduly and offensively positive in laying down principles and expressing opinions.

dogmatic about what is art and what is not

When would magisterial be a good substitute for oracular?

The synonyms magisterial and oracular are sometimes interchangeable, but magisterial stresses assumption or use of prerogatives appropriate to a magistrate or schoolmaster in forcing acceptance of one's opinions.

the magisterial tone of his pronouncements

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 oracular To this day a lively, biting, macabre comedy that was controversial in its time (and banned in Franco-era Spain for its anti-elite subtext), yet its core themes still resonate with uncanny oracular power. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 29 July 2025 Eisenberg completed an eerie song praising West Elm as an oracular realm, then asked Scardino to write a short monologue to set it up. Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 30 June 2025 Grade’s novels aren’t oracular, the way the section on postwar Vilna in his memoir was. Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2025 Lynch plays Cole as a secular prophet, a grand and monumental presence dispensing wisdom and judgment with a self-deprecating yet oracular intensity. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for oracular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oracular
Adjective
  • Whatever, Dever quickly recanted her earlier precise testimony to the FBI about the sinister doings by those two dodgy cops behind Karen Read’s SUV.
    Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The Haunted Carwash was the sinister concoction of spooky enthusiasts Long Vo and Veronica Young of Huntington Beach.
    Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • From the interpolation of four variegating imperatives emerges a single prophetic voice.
    Elaine L. Wang September 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Now those words appear prophetic.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • In the final novel of the series, The Last Battle, the destruction of trees and dryads in Lantern Waste, a place tied to the creation of Narnia itself, is one of many portentous omens signalling the end of the world.
    Ellen Walker, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The imposing gothic details of Victor’s castle-laboratory—a portentous warrior-angel statue that comes to life, a screaming Medusa rondel carved in stone—vibrate with gloomy baroque majesty.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • This quiz invites you to explore the darker corners of sci-fi literature, where monsters lurk not just in shadows, but in laboratories, alien worlds and post-apocalyptic wastelands.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Perhaps these vague apocalyptic visions only cause confusion and distraction.
    Gregory Barber, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • For instance, instead of the menacing roars popularized by Jurassic Park, the instruments often produce gentler conversation sounds, suggesting a social, communicative side to these animals.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
  • From there, the story is too exciting to reveal, except to say that someone presumed dead makes a menacing appearance.
    Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • With the gap between predictive models and regulatory maps now exposed, pressure is building on municipalities and state agencies to modernize infrastructure and flood mitigation planning.
    Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Consider the health plan that implements comprehensive provider data accuracy not to satisfy regulators, but to enable predictive network optimization.
    Tammy Hawes, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Still, Ortega’s performance proves that sulky, baleful gravity doesn’t have to lose its strange luster over time (a third season has already been announced).
    Tom Gliatto, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Orange County officials are the most recent to come under his baleful gaze.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Oracular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oracular. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!