oratorical

[ awr-uh-tawr-i-kuhl, or-uh-tor- ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of an orator or oratory:

   His oratorical prowess has led to political success.

2. given to oratory:

   an oratorical speaker.

Other Words From

• ora·tori·cal·ly adverb
• semi·ora·tori·cal adjective
• semi·ora·tori·cal·ly adverb
• super·ora·tori·cal adjective
• super·ora·tori·cal·ly adverb
• unor·a·tori·cal adjective
• unor·a·tori·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of oratorical¹

First recorded in 1610–20; orator, orator(y) ¹ + -ical

Example Sentences

It’s an astounding amount of influence for a man who has never won the Democratic presidential nomination and doesn’t possess once-in-a-generation oratorical skills.

From Slate

In court, Alimouri stood out from his fellow defense attorneys, and not just for his colorful nickname, coined by fans who swooned over his tailored suits, shiny pompadour and oratorical skills.

From Los Angeles Times

Extending that grand oratorical tradition, actors in current Oscar-season movies enjoyed ample opportunity to wax eloquent via riled-up characters who simply cannot contain themselves any longer.

From Los Angeles Times

Congress, by contrast, has failed miserably, in my view, with most Republicans becoming Trump apologists or facilitators and most Democrats lacking the strategic or oratorical skill to overcome that recalcitrance.

From Salon

That’s a dryly academic way of putting something that Willie, with his enviable oratorical powers, transforms into the stuff of excoriating comedy and high drama.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• rhetorical