symbolic gesture
noun
: an act that has no purpose or effect other than to show support, respect, etc.
The president's visit was mainly a symbolic gesture.
Examples of symbolic gesture in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Above the doorways, delicate gold cherubs peer down, which Trump was keen to display as a symbolic gesture.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
The resolution doesn’t have the force of law but is still a symbolic gesture of disapproval of Trump’s action.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 3 Apr. 2025
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden greeted Donald Trump and Melania Trump at the White House for a morning tea, continuing a symbolic gesture in the transfer of power.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2025
Unfortunately, as the Los Angeles Times reported in 2019, adoption of inclusion riders remained more a symbolic gesture than one actually put into practice.
—Kristen Lopez, Variety, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for symbolic gesture
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
The resolution doesn’t have the force of law but is still a symbolic gesture of disapproval of Trump’s action.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 3 Apr. 2025
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden greeted Donald Trump and Melania Trump at the White House for a morning tea, continuing a symbolic gesture in the transfer of power.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2025
Unfortunately, as the Los Angeles Times reported in 2019, adoption of inclusion riders remained more a symbolic gesture than one actually put into practice.
—Kristen Lopez, Variety, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for symbolic gesture
Cite this Entry
“Symbolic gesture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/symbolic%20gesture. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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