1
as in speech
the art of speaking in public eloquently and effectively
a presidential hopeful with a gift for oratory and a highly charismatic personality
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in rhetoric
language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere
the politician's oratory sounded good only to people who didn't bother to think
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oratory
Known for his extraordinary oratory skills, everyone who has been around Levy has a story to tell about his Marvisms and motivational speeches.
—
Tim Graham, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
Her brand at the time was something like the Obama of the antipodes: a liberal media darling, icon of the global anti-Trump resistance, transitioning smoothly from lofty oratory to easygoing relatability.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Hugo would likely have been repelled and fascinated by Trump’s demagoguery, his rambling mendacity, his grammatically illogical but easy-to-follow oratory.
—Graham Robb, The Atlantic, 9 June 2025
After escaping from slavery in Maryland in 1838, Douglass became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York and gained fame for his oratory and incisive antislavery writings.
—New Atlas, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for oratory
Tim Graham, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
Her brand at the time was something like the Obama of the antipodes: a liberal media darling, icon of the global anti-Trump resistance, transitioning smoothly from lofty oratory to easygoing relatability.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Hugo would likely have been repelled and fascinated by Trump’s demagoguery, his rambling mendacity, his grammatically illogical but easy-to-follow oratory.
—Graham Robb, The Atlantic, 9 June 2025
After escaping from slavery in Maryland in 1838, Douglass became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York and gained fame for his oratory and incisive antislavery writings.
—New Atlas, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for oratory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oratory
Noun
-
LeVota was in attendance during Wednesday’s speech.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
11 Feb. 2026
-
On the heels of accepting their Golden Globes, the duo won big at the Academy Awards, taking home Best Original Screenplay and delivering a memorable speech.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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That rhetoric has been replaced by a basic long-leash Republicanism — a shift that may be unsurprising with a dealmaker in the Oval Office, but has disappointed progressives and hardcore populists and sent legal sherpas scrambling to freshen their advice.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
14 Feb. 2026
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My approach combines conservative principles with practical solutions, delivering measurable results—not rhetoric.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Players understanding the play calls filtered through his thick Southern elocution.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
28 July 2025
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The delightful elocution of their dry-as-martini witticisms (dialect coach Nancy Carlin) adds to the joys of this period piece.—
Karen D'Souza,
The Mercury News,
25 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
It’s taught across all levels of communication, from college public speaking classes to corporate leadership seminars.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
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Goldberg also spoke out on the air against Charlie Kirk's assassin in September, after the conservative commentator was killed during a public speaking event on a college campus in Utah earlier this year.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oratory. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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