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 Suzuki’s view, this suggested that the flutter was not a simple indication but, instead, a symbolic gesture—another item crossed off on the unique-to-human-language list.
—
Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
Flanked by county officials and community leaders, David Baldwin turned over a pile of dirt with his shovel, a symbolic gesture decades in the making for this community south of Largo called Dansville.
—Kathryn Varn, Axios, 16 Sep. 2024
More cities will recognize Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day on Monday, but some Native advocates see it as a symbolic gesture that still falls short of the progress needed.
—Delano Massey, Axios, 12 Oct. 2024
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.
—Peter Guo, NBC News, 5 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for symbolic gesture 
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Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
Flanked by county officials and community leaders, David Baldwin turned over a pile of dirt with his shovel, a symbolic gesture decades in the making for this community south of Largo called Dansville.
—Kathryn Varn, Axios, 16 Sep. 2024
More cities will recognize Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day on Monday, but some Native advocates see it as a symbolic gesture that still falls short of the progress needed.
—Delano Massey, Axios, 12 Oct. 2024
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.
—Peter Guo, NBC News, 5 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for symbolic gesture
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 8 Nov. 2024.
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