oracular
[aw-rak-yuh-ler, oh-rak-]
- of the nature of, resembling, or suggesting an oracle: an oracular response.
- giving forth utterances or decisions as if by special inspiration or authority.
- uttered or delivered as if divinely inspired or infallible; sententious.
- ambiguous; obscure.
- portentous; ominous.
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Origin of oracular
Synonyms
See more synonyms for oracular on Thesaurus.com1. prophetic. 2. authoritative, dogmatic. 4. equivocal.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for oracular
Contemporary Examples
They make the Court an oracular interpreter of the 225-year-old Constitution that serves as the most basic American law.
His comments are aphoristic or oracular, but often infused with wit.
Greenspan cultivated an oracular air, his utterances vague and technocratic yet hinting at shamanistic powers.
Historical Examples
It assumes to be prophetical, and its utterances are oracular.
The Works of Whittier, Volume VI (of VII)John Greenleaf Whittier
"Anybody can do it, when once they know how," so ran this oracular document.
A Tangled TaleLewis Carroll
And Marion delivered this speech with a most oracular and pretentious tone.
The Bramleighs Of Bishop's FollyCharles James Lever
"You are neither of you right, as usual," said little Potts, in his oracular way.
Potts's Painless CureEdward Bellamy
Margaret was oracular and mysterious, and looked like a thundercloud.
DaisyElizabeth Wetherell
oracular
- of or relating to an oracleApollo had his oracular shrine at Delphi
- wise and prophetican oracular political thriller
- mysterious or ambiguous
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for oracular
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper