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oracular

adjective
orac·​u·​lar | \ ȯ-ˈra-kyÉ™-lÉ™r How to pronounce oracular (audio) , É™-\

Definition of oracular

1 : resembling an oracle (as in solemnity of delivery)
2 : of, relating to, or being an oracle
Other Words from oracular Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about oracular

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Other Words from oracular

oracularity \ ȯ-​ËŒra-​kyÉ™-​ˈlar-​É™-​tÄ“ How to pronounce oracularity (audio) \ noun
oracularly \ ȯ-​ˈra-​kyÉ™-​lÉ™r-​lÄ“ How to pronounce oracularly (audio) \ adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for oracular

dictatorial, magisterial, dogmatic, doctrinaire, oracular mean imposing one's will or opinions on others. dictatorial stresses autocratic, high-handed methods and a domineering manner. exercised dictatorial control over the office 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 dogmatic implies being unduly and offensively positive in laying down principles and expressing opinions. dogmatic about what is art and what is not doctrinaire implies a disposition to follow abstract theories in framing laws or policies affecting people. a doctrinaire approach to improving the economy 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

Did You Know?

When the ancient Greeks had questions or problems that were worrying them, they would often turn to one of their gods for answers by consulting an oracle. The word oracle has several meanings. It can refer to the god's answer, to the shrine the worshippers went to when seeking advice, or to a person through whom the god communicated, usually in the form of cryptic verse. (The words "oracular" and "oracle" trace back to the Latin verb orare, which means "to speak.") Today, "oracle" can simply mean an authoritative pronouncement or a person who makes such pronouncements ("a designer who is an oracle of fashion"). The related adjective "oracular" is used in similar contexts ("a designer who is the oracular voice of fashion").

Examples of oracular in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Taken in isolation, oracular answers can generate consistently helpful results. — Jonathan Zittrain, The New Yorker, "The Hidden Costs of Automated Thinking," 23 July 2019 Along the way, Lyra picks up an oracular device called an aletheometer, meets aeronaut Lee Scoresby (played by Lin-Manuel Miranda) and armored polar bear Iorek Byrinson, and recruits them to help her free her friends and disrupt the Church’s plans. — Andrew Liptak, The Verge, "A war is brewing in the new trailer for HBO’s fantasy series His Dark Materials," 19 July 2019 This sounds like pure manipulation of the oracular cult. — James Romm, WSJ, "‘Soldier, Priest, and God’ Review: The Emperor Divine," 13 Dec. 2018 The question of propaganda versus true belief becomes acute in the episode of Alexander’s expedition to Siwah, an oasis in the Sahara Desert, to consult Amon’s oracular shrine. — James Romm, WSJ, "‘Soldier, Priest, and God’ Review: The Emperor Divine," 13 Dec. 2018 Farallon Capital became one of the world’s largest funds, due mainly to Steyer’s oracular way with undervalued stocks. — Rob Haskell, Vogue, "Billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer on Impeaching Trump, Getting Out the Vote, and Winning in 2020," 14 Nov. 2018 Her story bridges, much as Couto himself does, various narrative modes: the epistolary and the oracular, the chronicle of the colonial expedition and the fabulism of a universe unbounded by time. — Sheila Glaser, New York Times, "A Fable of Mozambique, Its Bloodshed and Myths," 8 June 2018 Into all this, amid stations of music stands and surround-sound loudspeaker installations, wandered an impishly oracular Kopatchinskaja. — Mark Swed, latimes.com, "Beethoven rolls over at the Ojai Music Festival," 8 June 2018 These are texts, finally, to read and revisit, lean, oracular, irreducible. — Dustin Illingworth, latimes.com, "Elusive leaps of grace and daring: Rachel Cusk's 'Kudos'," 31 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oracular.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of oracular

1631, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for oracular

Latin oraculum

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