How to Use symbolic gesture in a Sentence

symbolic gesture

noun
  • Unlike the below-ground oath of office, this would not be a symbolic gesture.
    — Jay Walder, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2026
  • This was, at the time, a symbolic gesture, which the film injects with a little too much suspense.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 Mar. 2024
  • Not as a symbolic gesture, but as standard practice.
    — Wolfgang Oels, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2026
  • But that is a largely symbolic gesture, because the strait remains closed.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
  • This is not a symbolic gesture, but one with horrific consequences.
    — Doris Bittar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2024
  • Some see the label as more of a symbolic gesture than a move that actually impacts people’s lives.
    — Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
  • Thus, stigmatization may appear to some as a weak, symbolic gesture.
    — Alexander Cooley, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2022
  • In a symbolic gesture, Moore gave Melissa the first pen of the afternoon.
    — Sam Janesch, Baltimore Sun, 16 May 2023
  • This is not a symbolic gesture, but a permanent testament to his life’s work, his courage and his sacrifice.
    — Filip Timotija, The Hill, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Except the retirement papers are a symbolic gesture that mean nothing.
    — Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Feb. 2023
  • Four Israeli newspapers covered their front pages in black ink as a symbolic gesture to mark a blow against democracy.
    — Isabel Debre, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 July 2023
  • Shareholders cannot afford to mistake a symbolic gesture for a strategic approach.
    — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
  • At $35 million, this first grant to BAE is almost a symbolic gesture.
    — Eva Dou, Washington Post, 12 Dec. 2023
  • Up until 2016, though, only men could receive the symbolic gesture.
    — Taysha Murtaugh, Country Living, 12 Mar. 2023
  • For the national anthem, removing the hat is a symbolic gesture of loyalty to the country.
    — Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 4 July 2023
  • Not as a symbolic gesture, but as a legally binding framework that governs everything from tank retrievals to groundwater treatment.
    — New Atlas, 14 Dec. 2025
  • Mexico has yet to formally respond to the decision, though experts predict tensions could rise over the symbolic gesture.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
  • Glenn Kaino’s Bridge is a sculptural reiteration of this symbolic gesture.
    — The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019
  • The order for the symbolic gesture runs through sunset on Friday, according to a release by the governor's office.
    — Joe Mutascio, The Indianapolis Star, 28 Mar. 2023
  • The London pub is also preparing for another symbolic gesture.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Some observers have argued that Iran’s April 13 drone and missile assault on Israel was a symbolic gesture.
    — Dennis Ross, Foreign Affairs, 1 May 2024
  • But 21 minutes later, Brodeur switched his vote, a symbolic gesture that had no difference on his official vote or the final outcome of the bill.
    — Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
  • That Musk could purchase $1 billion in stock mostly as a symbolic gesture is another indication of his massive wealth.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Palestinian leaders in the West Bank welcomed the recognition by the three countries as an important symbolic gesture.
    — Michael Levenson, New York Times, 22 May 2024
  • The buoys, which came with a price tag estimated at $1 million, have emerged as more of a symbolic gesture than an actual deterrent to unlawful immigration.
    — John C. Moritz, Austin American-Statesman, 15 May 2024
  • In Suzuki’s view, this suggested that the flutter was not a simple indication but, instead, a symbolic gesture—another item crossed off on the unique-to-human-language list.
    — Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
  • The Mexican leader has sent shipments of food and other aid, and even donated $1,000 of her own money to relief efforts in a symbolic gesture.
    — ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Together, these observations suggested to the researchers that the fluttering qualifies as a symbolic gesture.
    — Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
  • This sense of mission was evident during the concert, particularly when Harfouch joined hands with Monseigneur Zani in a symbolic gesture of unity.
    — Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Against that backdrop, Instagram's new gold rings stand out as a symbolic gesture rather than direct financial support in an increasingly challenging creator economy.
    — Zach Vallese, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'symbolic gesture.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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