oracular

American  

[aw-rak-yuh-ler, oh-rak-] / ɔˈræk yə lər, oʊˈræk- /

adjective

1. of the nature of, resembling, or suggesting an oracle.

   an oracular response.

   Synonyms:

   prophetic

2. giving forth utterances or decisions as if by special inspiration or authority.

   Synonyms:

   dogmatic, authoritative

3. uttered or delivered as if divinely inspired or infallible; sententious.

4. ambiguous; obscure.

   Synonyms:

   equivocal

5. portentous; ominous.

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oracular British  

/ ɒˈrækjʊlə /

adjective

1. of or relating to an oracle

   Apollo had his oracular shrine at Delphi

2. wise and prophetic

   an oracular political thriller

3. mysterious or ambiguous

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Other Word Forms

• oracularity noun
• oracularly adverb
• oracularness noun

Etymology

Origin of oracular

First recorded in 1625–35; from Latin ōrācul(um) oracle + -ar ¹

Example Sentences

Ancient, patriarchal and oracular, Tennyson was not merely the poet laureate of England; he was, like his queen, a symbol of the British Empire.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

The identity of the oracular, or exceedingly well-informed, account holder is not known.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 5, 2026

In April 2014, I visited Dyson at the Institute for Advanced Study, where he spent much of his long career and, at 90, was oracular as ever.

From Slate • Dec. 9, 2025

In Suntory, the oracular power of Dudamel’s “Rite” proved outright shock therapy.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 29, 2025

That morning Dallben had given him the task of washing the oracular pig.

From "The Black Cauldron" by Lloyd Alexander