Definition of verbalnext
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 But Auschwitz had also left its mark on his diction—a sort of verbal tattoo. Literary Hub, 13 May 2026 In the case of Sloth World, FWC issued a verbal warning following a 2025 inspection for the size of the cages in which they were housed, which reports indicate were later rectified. Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2026 According to authorities, Ajani was non-verbal, and had autism and epilepsy. Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026 Alejandro was non-verbal and had attended Greater Heights Academy, a West Kendall school for special-needs children. Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for verbal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for verbal
Adjective
  • Cultural understanding and linguistic responsiveness are essential components of effective treatment.
    Maria Bledsoe, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2026
  • Indonesia is a country of 1,340 ethnic groups, more than 17,000 islands, and 718 local languages – representing roughly 10% of the world’s linguistic heritage – and Zon argues that the richness of that regional storytelling is precisely what differentiates Indonesian cinema internationally.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 May 2026
Adjective
  • The oral defense system, on this timeline, is conspicuously absent precisely when children are most vulnerable to ingesting dangerous things.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
  • Men are three times more likely to develop oral cancer than women, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
Adjective
  • To take plants seriously as living, breathing, conscious, and communicative beings, the movie suggests, requires a measure of time, an embrace of solitude, and a retreat from the hectic anxieties of the modern world.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
  • Do what feels right for you and stay communicative; those are great steps toward bonding.
    Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2026
Adjective
  • But both men benefit from a shock-and-awe rhetorical strategy.
    Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
  • Hosts sometimes have an argumentative style or adopt rhetorical strategies such as irony, jokes, and humor.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Verbal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/verbal. Accessed 22 May. 2026.

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