gestural

adjective

ges·​tur·​al ˈjes-chə-rəl How to pronounce gestural (audio)
ˈjesh-
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of gestures
2
: of, relating to, or characterized by vigorous application of paint and expressive brushwork
gestural expressionism
gesturally adverb

Examples of gestural in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The gestural scale of Pronouns both maps and encourages an ASL conversation space. Mara Mills, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2025 To viewers who had finally warmed to the wide, whooshing brushwork of de Kooning and the Abstract Expressionists, Stella’s canvases represented a direct assault on gestural painting, implying that expressionism and even human suffering had lost their allure as subjects for art. Deborah Solomon, New York Times, 5 May 2024 Each month of the calendar unveils one of Robertson's bespoke works, featuring loose brushwork and collage-like compositions that transform into gestural human figures. Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025 The staggered arrangement of the structures helps to define the various thematic areas of the exhibition, which begins with Baj’s early gestural abstraction, then his larval anthropomorphic figures and his iconic characters such as the Generals and the Ladies. Andrea Onate, WWD, 5 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for gestural

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gestural was in 1613

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Cite this Entry

“Gestural.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gestural. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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