1
as in to speak
to talk as if giving an important and formal speech
given the opportunity, many politicians will orate at considerable length on just about any subject
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to lecture
to give a formal often extended talk on a subject
the respected anthropologist is expected to orate about her latest research findings before a packed auditorium
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 orate
The Open Meeting Act prohibits directors from discussing (or orating) on matters not disclosed on the agenda, per Civil Code Section 4930(a).
—
Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025
The latter went on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and orated about his marathon oration sesh last week in Congress.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Elegantly orating about universal vastness and human connection, the Chilean/French rapper’s delivery melds poetic prose with grace.
—Griselda Flores, Billboard, 21 Feb. 2025
Is there a historical context where the struggle has been orated by other groups?
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2024
At the age of 3, little Malachi Lukes was orating at his school in the style of President Barack Obama.
—Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2024
Perhaps a chatbot can even orate.
—David Crary, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2023
Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025
The latter went on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and orated about his marathon oration sesh last week in Congress.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Elegantly orating about universal vastness and human connection, the Chilean/French rapper’s delivery melds poetic prose with grace.
—Griselda Flores, Billboard, 21 Feb. 2025
Is there a historical context where the struggle has been orated by other groups?
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2024
At the age of 3, little Malachi Lukes was orating at his school in the style of President Barack Obama.
—Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2024
Perhaps a chatbot can even orate.
—David Crary, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for orate
Verb
-
Earlier in the day, Knowles spoke with Sherri Shepherd on the Sherri show, and praised Blue Ivy for performing onstage with her mother in front of crowds of 70,000 people per night.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Diane Brady is an award-winning business journalist and author who has interviewed newsmakers worldwide and often speaks about the global business landscape.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But Andres Bernal, a political analyst who lectures at the City University of New York, thinks many young voters look at Cuomo's history of controversy and are reminded of the Democratic Party establishment that has left them disillusioned.—
Brian Mann,
NPR,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Before the Orange Bowl in January, Penn State head coach James Franklin used his dual pregame press conference with Marcus Freeman to lecture the college football world on his belief that Notre Dame should join a conference.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But expect more than a few awards pundits to declaim that the Academy, finally, has no other choice but to present Park Chan-wook with his first Oscar nomination.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Yours to treasure: to recite under your breath, to whisper in someone’s ear, to declaim at a party.—
A.O. Scott,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Verb
-
So to be there, back in my home state, to cover something that was just so unthinkable, reprehensible, that's always stayed with me, just talking to people in the days and hours after that tragedy.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Therefore, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding should talk with a healthcare provider before using sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners.—
Brittany Lubeck,
Verywell Health,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Truman would never have harangued the international community that America is First, or obstructed every effort to better the lot of humanity by asking what’s in it for the U.S., not in coming decades but during this news cycle.—
Andreas Kluth,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Philadelphia Phillies fan Drew Feltwell wants people to lay off the woman who harangued him and his son over a home run ball at a game last week.—
George Ramsay,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The cycle can become so accidentally ubiquitous that the former kids who blissfully existed outside of whatever discourses these trends or bands started in their heyday wonder now, as adults, what was so bad about them in the first place.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
21 July 2025
-
Admissions officers want to see that students will contribute meaningfully to discourse on campus.—
Christopher Rim,
Forbes.com,
17 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Orate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/orate. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share