Thesaurus results for GESTURES

gestures 1 of 2

noun

plural of gesture

as in signs

a movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or feeling a teenager who often shrugs her shoulders in a gesture of indifference

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as in courtesies

an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners sent a handwritten thank-you note as a gesture of his gratitude

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gestures

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of gesture

as in motions

to direct or notify by a movement or gesture the police officer gestured me to the side of the road to tell me my headlight was out

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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 gestures

Noun

In kitchens, courtyards, bedrooms and on the streets, women shared jokes, secrets, gestures of care and moments of freedom. — Photovogue, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2026 The moment taps a broader wartime tradition in Ukraine, where heroic dogs, cats and rescuers become national emblems — and American gestures of solidarity carry growing political weight. — Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 And when the clouds clear, people moonwalk through social-justice gestures. — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 But Flowers’ songwriting gestures—skywriting-sized, aimed at football-stadium cheap seats, several degrees removed from human interaction—suggest a different country icon. — Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 25 Aug. 2026 Other research suggests that similarly small gestures can meaningfully shape the patient experience. — Zain Khawaja, STAT, 24 Aug. 2026 Clear questions, simple improvements, and honest self-respect rebuild momentum better than dramatic gestures today. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026 Previously, the apps and menus that worked with these gestures were relatively limited. — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026 Summary Matic, an innovative home robot, offers advanced cleaning capabilities by understanding voice commands and gestures in over 70 languages. — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Verb

Health care executive Rick Jackson gestures to a supporter while qualifying to run for governor at the Georgia state Capitol last month. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 10 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gestures

Noun

The Habitable Worlds Observatory would be the first designed to photograph Earth-like planets — and even search for chemical signs of life within the atmospheres of those planets.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
There are signs that Democratic voters, especially, are looking for change, and some young voters argue older politicians can’t truly understand a world transformed by artificial intelligence, rising housing costs and student debt.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of signs

Noun

Small courtesies keep big efforts moving forward.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
With both courtesies and catastrophes refusing to conform, the canton’s school board, publishers, and clergy were forced to produce multiple editions of primers, textbooks, and catechisms; sometimes five parallel print runs were needed for a population the size of a town.

— Simon Akam, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025

Definition of courtesies

Noun

The performing community challenged that notion, tracing the scat-singing and gesticulations to earlier artists including Black jazz performer Baby Esther Jones and cabaret entertainer Florence Mills.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
But on a Sunday morning in July 1595, the groan of the heavy wooden door startled him from his gesticulations.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026

Definition of gesticulations

Verb

Picture a doorman who checks your ID with great care, then waves you into any apartment in the building.

— Julian Durand, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
The Spa At the beach-level spa, the windows were left wide open during my 60-minute Salt Air Reset massage, making all-natural birdsong and waves the soundtrack of my treatment.

— Katie Nanton, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of waves

Noun

Your focus can help cut through mixed signals without making the mood heavy.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Yet, 65% of respondents agree with Warsh that the Fed would benefit from talking less and getting a more unfiltered view of market signals on where rate policy should be.

— Steve Liesman, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of signals

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gestured

gestures

gesturing

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“Gestures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gestures. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of gestures

noun

verb

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