symbolic gesture

noun

: an act that has no purpose or effect other than to show support, respect, etc.
The president's visit was mainly a symbolic gesture.

Examples of symbolic gesture in a Sentence

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The Pentagon is planning to put its military oversight of Greenland under U.S. Northern Command, according to a report, a largely symbolic gesture that comes as President Donald Trump continues to press for the world's largest island to break from Denmark. Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 5 June 2025 The closure of the pope’s residence is a symbolic gesture that historically served to prevent looting of the pope’s residence. Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025 And while the Arab Gulf states have pursued rapprochement in recent years with Iran, and are calling for de-escalation, that is largely a symbolic gesture. Lina Khatib, Time, 19 June 2025 To Wu, their support of Trump signals a symbolic gesture: a longing for change. Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for symbolic gesture

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“Symbolic gesture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/symbolic%20gesture. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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