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
Ali Swenson, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
Abusing her position, as the federal reports revealed, is the antithesis of that mission.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
The Mexican federal government announced the deployment of nearly 100,000 troops to guarantee security in all three host cities, which also include Monterrey and Mexico City.
—CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Earlier this year, the federal government took steps to promote domestic glyphosate production.
—Thomas Heaton, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for federal
Adjective
Trump last month signed an executive order to create an anti-fraud task force across federal benefit programs led by Vice President JD Vance.
—Ali Swenson, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
Abusing her position, as the federal reports revealed, is the antithesis of that mission.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
The Mexican federal government announced the deployment of nearly 100,000 troops to guarantee security in all three host cities, which also include Monterrey and Mexico City.
—CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Earlier this year, the federal government took steps to promote domestic glyphosate production.
—Thomas Heaton, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for federal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for federal
Adjective
-
The University of Michigan men's basketball team will host an on-campus parade and celebration Saturday after winning the 2026 NCAA national championship.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Officials from the agency were entirely absent from last month’s RSAC conference, despite cybersecurity threats to national security being at an all-time high, especially considering the country is at war.—
Alan Henry,
PC Magazine,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Illinois ranks first in the nation for the highest number of taxing bodies, with more than 7,000 local governmental units and more than 800 school districts.—
Willie Wilson,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Secession and separation movements broadly reflect legitimate concerns about governmental responsiveness and representation, with experts noting that as people become more disenfranchised from the political process, exploring alternative solutions becomes a natural response to systemic dysfunction.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Now the G-men head down there to collar Massachusetts cops — sheriffs and crooked state troopers.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
10 Aug. 2025
-
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
-
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
-
The backlogs are real for these clinics, Soni said, recalling one GI clinic that had a backlog of six months, and 4,000 procedures that were waiting to be scheduled, representing millions in revenue.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
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Toward the end of April 2025, the mother started sending messages to the hospital’s GI team asking for G-tube placement and saying that her son’s physical medicine and rehab provider told her to ask if that was something to consider.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
In the tense Lebanese capital, Beirut, Israeli surveillance drones buzz overhead while red tracer bullets light up the night skies, fired to warn residents of possible attacks.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
3 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
-
Get the snake started into the bag tail first.—
Dr. C. E. Kuschel,
Outdoor Life,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Abergel left the lengths loose, descending from the base of the twist like the tail of a ponytail, and styled them in soft waves that spilled down just past Kidman's shoulders.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Federal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/federal. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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