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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
2
as in Confederate
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 federal
Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
Ironically, many Chinese firms also take advantage of the same federal subsidies offered through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 2026
The governor’s bill would require any state agency charged with incarcerating people to follow the standards outlined in the federal law.
—Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
In recent months, federal prosecutors have brought charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey.
—Tiago Ventura, Time, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for federal
Adjective
Add to that a backlog of federal immigration cases and the ongoing legal fallout from the administration’s mass-deportation push, and the result is an organization that is thoroughly overwhelmed.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
Ironically, many Chinese firms also take advantage of the same federal subsidies offered through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 2026
The governor’s bill would require any state agency charged with incarcerating people to follow the standards outlined in the federal law.
—Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
In recent months, federal prosecutors have brought charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey.
—Tiago Ventura, Time, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for federal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for federal
Adjective
-
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The national spotlight has attracted trolls from across the country and even overseas, city officials believe.—
Caitlin Hu,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Using these governmental resources, libraries across the nation have launched workshops to promote digital literacy regardless of someone’s starting point.—
Rachel Curry,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Is this a comedown for blockchain technology, which began as a rebellion against Wall Street and governmental control of global finance?—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
18 Feb. 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
-
Duvall moved to New York following his military discharge and used the GI Bill to enroll in the famed Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre.—
Christopher Watson,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
All parts of this plant contains saponins, which can cause salivation, vomiting and GI upset.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
The insects feed on organic matter and use a tail-like bodies to jump, appearing as dark, pepper-like specs in the snow.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
19 Feb. 2026
-
In an era where artistic metrics are splintered between box office, streaming and the long tail of cultural chatter, Merino still believes in the old ritual.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Federal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/federal. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
