federal 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of federalnext
as in national
of or relating to a federation or to its central government A federal system of government distributes power between a country's central and regional governments. The President, Congress, and the Supreme Court are all part of the federal government of the United States.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Federal

2 of 2

noun

1
as in nark

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in Confederate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of federal
Adjective
The moves come as the Trump administration seeks to stamp out DEI programs in both the federal government and the private sector. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025 The Elrod Gifford Group will represent individual, non-profit and corporate clients, at a moment when Democrats and progressives grapple with when and how to respond to the Republican dominance at the federal level. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2025 Through an executive order, the president established a federal crypto stockpile apparently intended to function as a strategic reserve. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025 The internationalists ought to be happy that the federal government is protecting trade. — Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for federal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for federal
  1. national
  2. G-man
  3. GI
  4. narc
  5. tracer
  6. plainclothesman
  7. tail
  8. investigator
Adjective
  • The Headliner Awards named him the 2024 national sports columnist of the year.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The German national team is through to the final four of the UEFA Nations League after beating Italy 5-4 on aggregate.
    — Manuel Veth, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of national
Noun
  • Cameron directed Arnold Schwarzenegger in this influential action pic about a family man who also happens to be a G-man.
    — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
  • For more than forty years, Hoover’s G-men devoted hundreds of thousands of man hours to the threat that was Paul Robeson: debriefing informants, wiretapping phone conversations, and monitoring rallies, concerts, and plays.
    — Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Oct. 2024
Definition of G-man
Noun
  • In addition to its benefits for your GI system, dragon fruit also contains antioxidants and fatty acids, which can improve circulation and help keep your cholesterol levels in check, according to King.
    — Gillian Mohney, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2025
  • In the 1950s, the Mackle brothers built distinct but simple homes, many purchased by World War II veterans using GI bill benefits.
    — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of GI
Noun
  • You’re automatically dubbed a narc, a kiss-ass, a too-cool.
    — Brandi California, SPIN, 1 July 2024
  • The software, which would effectively act like a narc embedded on people’s iPhones, could have unintended consequences, critics said, despite Apple’s assurances that it would be used solely to stop child predators.
    — Declan Harty, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2021
Definition of narc
Noun
  • Most interplanetary life-detection experiments have involved looking for chemical tracers—biosignatures—that otherworldly microbes might create in their environments as a by-product of their metabolism.
    — Gayoung Lee, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2025
  • Accelerating Circularity is looking at working with a DNA tracer to ensure that any cotton content doesn’t violate the Uyghur Forced Labor Protection Act, or UFLPA, in the United States, said Shelly Gottschamer, its vice president of global programs and stakeholder engagement.
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
Definition of tracer
Noun
  • Less than a month later, plainclothesmen arrested Nassar at a local tire store, and Munford took him into custody.
    — Jason Schmidt, Glamour, 30 Oct. 2018
  • Hustling bucks and ducking the Third Division boys, those earnest young plainclothesmen assigned to the vice squad who work out of the 17th Precinct on the East Side.
    — Gail Sheehy, Daily Intelligencer, 9 Sep. 2017
Definition of plainclothesman
Noun
  • Next, use the tip of the blade to cut down one side of the spine and finish by slicing through the skin at the tail.
    — Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The only violation had legs, a tail and left 16 pieces of rodent poop near the front counter, under dry storage shelves and the reach-in cooler.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of tail
Noun
  • The government's own investigators have repeatedly found serious problems in immigration detention centers around the country.
    — Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2025
  • In a missing persons poster provided by the sheriff's office, investigators wrote that the family had rented a 2024 white BMW with California license plate number 9KHN768.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of investigator

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Cite this Entry

“Federal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/federal. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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