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
In a religiously symbolic gesture, the interfaith agreement was signed in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta at the Istiqlal Mosque, which was designed by a Christian architect.
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Peter Guo, NBC News, 5 Sep. 2024
Glenn Kaino’s Bridge is a sculptural reiteration of this symbolic gesture.
—The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Biden literally embraced Netanyahu on the tarmac when the president landed in Tel Aviv in November as a symbolic gesture of unequivocal support for Israel, and has since kept the prime minister close metaphorically, offering military and financial support.
—Nicole Narea, Vox, 25 July 2024
Thus, stigmatization may appear to some as a weak, symbolic gesture.
—Alexander Cooley, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2022
See all Example Sentences for symbolic gesture 
Peter Guo, NBC News, 5 Sep. 2024
Glenn Kaino’s Bridge is a sculptural reiteration of this symbolic gesture.
—The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Biden literally embraced Netanyahu on the tarmac when the president landed in Tel Aviv in November as a symbolic gesture of unequivocal support for Israel, and has since kept the prime minister close metaphorically, offering military and financial support.
—Nicole Narea, Vox, 25 July 2024
Thus, stigmatization may appear to some as a weak, symbolic gesture.
—Alexander Cooley, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2022
See all Example Sentences for symbolic gesture
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'symbolic gesture.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near symbolic gesture
Cite this Entry
“Symbolic gesture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/symbolic%20gesture. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
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