1
as in titular
being something in name or form only
he was the nominal head of state—everyone knew the country was actually run by one of his advisers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slight
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention
when you pay $400 for an airline ticket, a ticketing fee of five dollars seems nominal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in substantive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nominal
Jeremy D. Larson, Pitchfork, 11 Apr. 2025
Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders are nominal political outsiders, regular critics of the Democratic establishment and proud progressives who are beloved by leftwing base voters — qualities that have advantages in today’s political environment.
—David M. Drucker, Boston Herald, 11 Apr. 2025
Some combination of bad staff work and bad judgment on her part led Whitmer to be used as a political prop who lent some nominal bipartisanship to an episode that Democrats would very much like Trump to have sole ownership of.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 11 Apr. 2025
The nominal aims of orders to, for example, stop anti-semitism or halt the teaching of diversity, equity and inclusion topics are smoke screens for an attempt to hobble institutions that are perceived to house a liberal elite.
—William Stafford Noble, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nominal
Adjective
Cage’s most famous composition—a piece where any performer exists in any space for four minutes and 33 seconds—is performed in nominal silence.
—Jeremy D. Larson, Pitchfork, 11 Apr. 2025
Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders are nominal political outsiders, regular critics of the Democratic establishment and proud progressives who are beloved by leftwing base voters — qualities that have advantages in today’s political environment.
—David M. Drucker, Boston Herald, 11 Apr. 2025
Some combination of bad staff work and bad judgment on her part led Whitmer to be used as a political prop who lent some nominal bipartisanship to an episode that Democrats would very much like Trump to have sole ownership of.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 11 Apr. 2025
The nominal aims of orders to, for example, stop anti-semitism or halt the teaching of diversity, equity and inclusion topics are smoke screens for an attempt to hobble institutions that are perceived to house a liberal elite.
—William Stafford Noble, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nominal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nominal
Adjective
-
Sure, Thunderbolts* also features the titular dysfunctional team of antiheroes in a big fight against the unstable, Superman-like Sentry/Void a.k.a.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
EW.com,
3 May 2025
-
Following four 30-something female friends living in the titular NYC neighborhood of Harlem, the series starred Meagan Good and Grace Byers, with recurring appearances by TV heavyweights Whoopi Goldberg and Jasmine Guy.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
Several rivers that have been flooded in Northern Texas could see a slight bump in water levels over the weekend, according to the National Water Prediction Service.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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Despite a slight deceleration in the first quarter of 2025, the growth remained positive, with volume and revenue increasing by 1.1% and 1.52% respectively.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
Noun
-
First Acts: From the symbolic to the substantive, here is a look at what nine new governors elected last year have done in their first weeks in office.—
Maggie Astor,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2023
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With his substantive, agreeably granular bass, David Grogan gave prophetic warnings real authority.—
Dallas News,
Dallas News,
23 Dec. 2022
Adjective
-
Large firms ignore early-stage disruptors because their technology initially underperforms, their market is too small, or their profitability is negligible.—
Esade Business & Law School,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Although Cruz’s dancing abilities weren’t negligible, her voice was incomparable.—
Leila Cobo,
Billboard,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Buffett has owned tiny stakes in sports franchises during his career.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
4 May 2025
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This single complication alone requires 123 tiny components to set its horological dance into motion.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
3 May 2025
Adjective
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Mixed in with small pleasures and petty disputes with her older sister are true feats of survival and bravery.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
2 May 2025
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Baffert had long operated under a cloud of suspicion inside and outside of racing, thanks in part to his larger-than-life public persona and his utter domination of the competition on the racetrack – not to mention a series of other petty drug infractions in big races leading up to the 2021 Derby.—
Katie Bo Lillis,
CNN Money,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nominal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nominal. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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