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
Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
Both are being held in New York City on federal narco-terrorism charges.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Since late 2025, under new agreements with the Department of Homeland Security, Florida has deputized more than eighteen hundred state troopers to perform federal-immigration functions.
—Edwidge Danticat, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
Journalist Don Lemon has been charged with federal civil rights crimes in connection with an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church, the Department of Homeland Security said Friday.
—Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for federal
Adjective
Restaurant tables sat empty, business windows went dark and students’ desks were abandoned in several cities across the country Friday amid a nationwide strike in protest of the federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
Both are being held in New York City on federal narco-terrorism charges.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Since late 2025, under new agreements with the Department of Homeland Security, Florida has deputized more than eighteen hundred state troopers to perform federal-immigration functions.
—Edwidge Danticat, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
Journalist Don Lemon has been charged with federal civil rights crimes in connection with an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church, the Department of Homeland Security said Friday.
—Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for federal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for federal
Adjective
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The deaths of Pretti and Renee Good have transformed the national conversation on immigration enforcement and appear to have driven a tone shift from the White House in recent days.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
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At least five national leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, have visited Xi in January alone.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This is not guaranteed, certainly, but is perhaps more likely to happen than further governmental action.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
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Congress, which makes our laws, is the only governmental body that can repeal them.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 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
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You’re automatically dubbed a narc, a kiss-ass, a too-cool.—
Brandi California,
SPIN,
1 July 2024
Noun
-
No one had written about the Black GI as a phenomenon.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
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Busser does pro bono work for active military through the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs GI LAW Program.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The dye, a non-toxic tracer often used in environmental studies, transformed the waters of the Grand Canal into a bright green color.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
25 Nov. 2025
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Extinction Rebellion said the dye used was a fluorescent, non-toxic tracer commonly employed in environmental studies, such as tracking water flows or monitoring leaks.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
25 Nov. 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
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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
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Instead of the springer or girder front suspension and semi-hard-tail frame of the original, the Chief Vintage uses modern but stylized front forks and discreet twin rear shocks that mimic the unsprung frame of the post-war bikes.—
William Roberson,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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In addition to the photos, her favorite items in the living room include a blue-and-white mosaic whale-tail sculpture and white ceramic alligator bookends.—
Lennie Omalza,
Louisville Courier Journal,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Federal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/federal. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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