IDEATIONAL Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

ideational

adjective

ˌī-dē-ˈā-sh(ə-)nəl

Definition of ideational

as in theoretical

dealing with or expressing a quality or idea ideograms are ideational—they are meant to suggest some general idea and not a particular word or phrase

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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 ideational Constructivists’ major argument is that world politics is as much ideational as material and that relations among states depend on norms as much as on military or economic power. — Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 31 Oct. 2025 These ideational shifts, influenced by both global narratives and local aspirations, are increasingly shaping how Indians approach relationships. — Anuradha Gupta, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025 The ideational content of the image — a man killing another man on a public sidewalk — is only half the message. — F.k. Plous, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025 This process, which Doten-Snitker and her coauthors term ideational diffusion, often took many years as people in towns and cities needed time to digest new ideas about witchcraft and turn them into behavior. — Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2024 Steven Spielberg extends Griffith’s and Ford’s historical insight through an astonishing mix of visual and ideational dialectics. — Armond White, National Review, 28 June 2023

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ideational

Adjective

David Sloan is a theoretical physicist at Lancaster University and the Chief Scientific Officer of the Foundational Questions Institute.

— Big Think, Big Think, 28 Aug. 2026
Far from being a theoretical threat, at least one active attack is already exploiting the mixup.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of theoretical

Adjective

Eddy has been spared the worst violence; the novel casts his racial privilege as a kind of metaphysical exemption.

— Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
There seems to be a deliberate effort here to make the show more fun without dumbing down its metaphysical and philosophical implications.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of metaphysical

Adjective

As previously announced, the event which raises funds for amfAR’s mission to support HIV research and improve global health, will also honor conceptual and performance artist Marina Abramović with amfAR’s Award of Inspiration.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
An art adviser who doesn’t like Lalanne or the type of person who is drawn to them said that their worst pieces have no conceptual content.

— Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of conceptual

Adjective

But the film doesn’t have to be abstract and leave you longing and searching for answers and so forth.

— Steve Appleford, SPIN, 27 Aug. 2026
Physicists asking these questions have recently focused on an even more abstract space that seems especially well suited for their purposes.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of abstract

Adjective

Subsequent research actually backed him up, finding that habitual calculator use before students had internalized basic arithmetic weakened their mental fluency and fact retrieval.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
When discussing his current mental state, Jake was forthcoming about how difficult this time period has been.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of mental

Adjective

But rather than building it near the existing complex, it was constructed on vacant land in the Latin Quarter, the intellectual heart of the city.

— Shannon Fogg, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2026
Indeed, while Baldessari’s work might seem bland and intellectual at first glance, plenty of pieces in the show put his sense of humor on full display.

— Douglas Markowitz, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of intellectual

Browse Nearby Words

ideation

ideational

idée fixe

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“Ideational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ideational. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of ideational

adjective

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