ideational

adjective

ˌī-dē-ˈā-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce ideational (audio)
Definition of ideationalnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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
  1. theoretical
  2. metaphysical
  3. conceptual
  4. abstract
  5. mental
  6. intellectual
Adjective
  • The Virgo Moon moves through your 2nd House of Resources, making spending, pricing, comfort, and self-worth feel more practical than theoretical.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The public comments came shortly after Fauci had privately raised the theoretical possibility that fever and cytokine-related reactions after a second vaccine dose could be associated with first-trimester miscarriage.
    — Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of theoretical
Adjective
  • That Dante lived during both the 13th and 14th centuries — and that Tosches’ movements as his novel’s protagonist take place at the start of the 21st century — means nothing in Schnabel’s meta-metaphysical realm.
    — A.D. Amorosi, SPIN, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The war on language is more metaphysical than just the policing of proper social justice terminology, Williams argues.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
Definition of metaphysical
Adjective
  • This math curriculum, designed around state grade-level standards, prioritizes deeper understanding, rather than memorization, to help students develop conceptual understanding over time, said district spokesperson James Canning.
    — Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The conceptual and performance artist will be feted with an Award of Inspiration while Rexha is due to hit the stage on the heels of the release of her latest album Dirty Blonde.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of conceptual
Adjective
  • That site is temporarily closed, and many of the items—pedestals and furniture, photographs and tools—are coming from Paris for this show, giving Brancusi’s cool, abstract sculptures a rich, human context.
    — Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Venus in your 12th House of Solitude trines Pluto early on, helping private healing feel less abstract and more powerful.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of abstract
Adjective
  • Wondermind, which was co-founded by Gomez; her mother, Mandy Teefey; and Daniella Pierson in November 2021, touts mental fitness practices and tools.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 14 Aug. 2026
  • But as the physical scars began to heal and fade, the mental ones remained fresh.
    — Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of mental
Adjective
  • The nastiness of intellectual disputes, therefore, depends in part on how people frame their positions.
    — Andras Molnar, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Hershiser has enjoyed the intellectual challenge of mastering the mechanics of covering baseball for a TV audience.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of intellectual

Browse Nearby Words

ideation
ideational
idée fixe
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Cite this Entry

“Ideational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ideational. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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