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.
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as in Confederate
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of federal
Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2026
Tolls on federal roads might pay for it Zohran Mamdani's pied-à-terre property tax is moving ahead.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 15 May 2026
However, a federal judge temporarily blocked the changes in March.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 15 May 2026
With federal protections in flux and the EWG estimating more than 200 million Americans could have PFAS in their drinking water above 1 part per trillion, the responsibility has largely shifted to consumers to figure this out themselves.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for federal
Adjective
Challenge from defense During cross-examination, Newton Jones’ attorney, Dan Nelson, went over portions of Stapp’s plea agreement, pointing out that she’d been charged with 50 federal counts.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2026
Tolls on federal roads might pay for it Zohran Mamdani's pied-à-terre property tax is moving ahead.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 15 May 2026
However, a federal judge temporarily blocked the changes in March.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 15 May 2026
With federal protections in flux and the EWG estimating more than 200 million Americans could have PFAS in their drinking water above 1 part per trillion, the responsibility has largely shifted to consumers to figure this out themselves.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for federal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for federal
Adjective
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In her return to Los Angeles after winning a national championship with UCLA this spring, Tempo rookie Kiki Rice netted 11 points.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
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Kyiv officials announced a day of mourning on Friday to honor the victims, with national flags at half-mast across the city of three million people.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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Third, communicate better with state agencies and local governmental authorities (cities, school districts, counties) and with their in-house and, where applicable, outside legal counsel.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
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Magyar has vowed to conduct a major overhaul of much of the governmental structure, and there are now separate ministries for health, environmental protection and education that did not exist under Orbán.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Now the G-men head down there to collar Massachusetts cops — sheriffs and crooked state troopers.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
10 Aug. 2025
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Exactly what will happen to DC’s most polarizing building after the G-men move out is still not clear, although President Trump has suggested the FBI will eventually return.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
19 July 2025
Noun
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The team's 33-15 loss gave it a 2-11 record, which is the worst nark in the NFC.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Dec. 2025
-
You’re automatically dubbed a narc, a kiss-ass, a too-cool.—
Brandi California,
SPIN,
1 July 2024
Noun
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May lead to excessive absorption, stressing your body's cardiovascular, renal, and GI systems.—
Sara Hoffman,
Verywell Health,
6 May 2026
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Standard treatments like carbidopa/levodopa may take longer to kick in or feel less effective when GI issues are in play.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Manganese, a battery process tracer, can have neurological effects at chronic doses, the report stated.—
Arcelia Martin,
San Antonio Express-News,
27 Apr. 2026
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Aware has been using tracer particles and its blockchain technology for several years now, applying it to recycled cotton, denim and other materials.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Sourcing Journal,
30 Mar. 2026
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
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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
Noun
-
These gentle giants used the surface area of their long necks and tails to shed heat and regulate their body temperature.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
14 May 2026
-
Various engineers seeking superior grip performance have employed biomimicry in their designs, which have been inspired by seed pods, elephant trunks, lobster tails (in fact, using actual lobster tails), and, of course, octopus limbs.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Federal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/federal. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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