variants
also categoric
as in unconditional
having no exceptions or restrictions
a categorical denial of the rumors that the celebrities were planning to get married
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 categorical
Once a senior official declares something with categorical certainty, the system can feel pressure – sometimes subtle, sometimes overt – to validate the headline.
—
Brian O'Neill, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
With no cup football or match load to hide behind, this was a firm, categorical choice by Farke to make Darlow his first choice and Perri his back-up.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2026
Psychological distress rarely maps cleanly onto categorical diagnoses.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Hegseth has loosely moderated his once categorical opposition to women serving in ground combat roles after years of arguing that women should be excluded from front-line units.
—Steven Beynon, ABC News, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for categorical
Brian O'Neill, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
With no cup football or match load to hide behind, this was a firm, categorical choice by Farke to make Darlow his first choice and Perri his back-up.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2026
Psychological distress rarely maps cleanly onto categorical diagnoses.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Hegseth has loosely moderated his once categorical opposition to women serving in ground combat roles after years of arguing that women should be excluded from front-line units.
—Steven Beynon, ABC News, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for categorical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for categorical
Adjective
-
Her loyalty, unconditional love and gratitude will be worth the extra care her heart requires, guaranteed!—
Maryanne Dell,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Sponsored and provided by LifeBridge Health Pets bring joy, companionship and unconditional love into our lives.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Unfortunately, Omnissa’s data didn’t detail exactly how many crashes both Windows and Mac computers suffered in absolute terms, only that Windows came in behind Macs.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Despite absolute rulership always resting with the ayatollah, Iran has some functioning republican institutions, including presidential elections.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
If the success of a party is measured by the sheer volume of sequins, few could compete with the Conservative Action Political Conference.—
Sarah Bahari,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
At various crucial points in the journey, the crew expects to lose contact with mission control because of the sheer distance and physics involved with the flight.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Build buffer time, trim one commitment, then return to the itinerary with even gentler expectations and a simpler packing list.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Parents, guardians, aunts and uncles don't have time to read every book on the shelf while trying to pick something for the young reader in their life, so here are some simple ways to determine if a book is suitable for that child.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
After letting the final Bosnian penalty slip under his reach on Tuesday, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma remained on his knees, putting his hands on his head in utter disbelief.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The transition from agricultural employment to factory employment involved wrenching mass migration, the utter misery of the Great Depression (as well as other brutal recessions, now faded from collective memory), and the painful dealmaking of the New Deal.—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There is a definite buzz of excitement at the press site here at the Kennedy Space Center.—
Charlie Gile,
NBC news,
1 Apr. 2026
-
So far, there isn’t definite evidence of a multiverse based on string theory.—
Zachary Slepian,
The Conversation,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The pilot who was receiving instruction had nearly 6,000 total hours of civilian flight experience and more than 200 in the last six months.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Polyester remains the dominant fiber globally, accounting for 59 percent of total fiber output, and because these feedstocks remain closely tied to petrochemical and energy markets, sharp price movements are felt across yarn, dyeing, logistics and overall cost planning.—
Assef Shaikh,
Footwear News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Perhaps no other museum cafe in the city is more beloved than the Neue Galerie's Café Sabarsky, a Viennese cafe that seems to transport guests to Austria, circa 1910, complete with lighting fixtures by Josef Hoffmann, furniture by Adolf Loos, and banquettes upholstered with Otto Wagner fabric.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
-
His metamorphosis into social scientist-cum-sage appears to be complete.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Categorical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/categorical. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
