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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Dissimilar Words
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as in Confederate
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of federal
Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
He was sentenced by a federal judge to 15 months behind bars.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
If its lawyers were unable to enter federal buildings or courthouses, representation of clients before federal courts and agencies would become impossible.
—Fabio Bertoni, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
The spot, paid for by the Ontario provincial government and not the Canadian federal government, features the voice of former President Ronald Reagan, speaking during a radio address on April 25, 1987.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for federal
Adjective
The federal agency has been working to reduce dietary exposure to contaminants for children to as close to zero as possible.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
He was sentenced by a federal judge to 15 months behind bars.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
If its lawyers were unable to enter federal buildings or courthouses, representation of clients before federal courts and agencies would become impossible.
—Fabio Bertoni, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
The spot, paid for by the Ontario provincial government and not the Canadian federal government, features the voice of former President Ronald Reagan, speaking during a radio address on April 25, 1987.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for federal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for federal
Adjective
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This national narrative sat in tension with a growing regionalism, seen in the rise of local historians and small museums.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
26 Oct. 2025
-
While Virginia has leaned Democratic in recent presidential elections, its gubernatorial contests have often defied national trends.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Students automatically qualify if their families receive other governmental assistance, such as SNAP benefits.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Oct. 2025
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After Gustav in 2008, the US provided $100,000 in immediate emergency assistance to non-governmental organizations working in humanitarian relief in Cuba.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
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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You’re automatically dubbed a narc, a kiss-ass, a too-cool.—
Brandi California,
SPIN,
1 July 2024
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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
Noun
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This is mainly due to their slightly higher glycemic index (GI) than sweet potatoes.—
Sohaib Imtiaz,
Verywell Health,
30 Oct. 2025
-
This urgent bathroom break can contribute to GI discomfort.—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois,
Health,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The researchers used positron emission tomography (PET) scans, along with a radioactive tracer to measure the production of a chemical called acetylcholine in the participants’ brains at the start and end of the study.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
23 Oct. 2025
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The imaging technique relies on the use of a radioactive tracer and a special camera to make pictures of breast tissue.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
Noun
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On nights when Nova’s feeling sleepy, Poppy happily entertains herself with her mountain of toys — or by spinning in happy circles to reclaim that elusive tail.—
Evan Moore
November 3,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The bottle opener is roughly hand sized, with the tail acting as the cap lifter.—
Olivia Evans,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Federal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/federal. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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