as in obsessive
extremely or overly neat, careful, or precise
I've always been anal about arranging my books alphabetically by author.
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Recent Examples of anal
Snakeheads also have a longer anal fin (lower body fin) that is about half the length of their body.
—
Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 30 May 2025
Opening of the anal canal: The opening of the canal length is approximately 1.5 centimeters during rectal emptying.
—Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 20 Feb. 2025
There are no standardized tests for men, but options include penile swabs and anal swabs.
—Cat Wang, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
The length of the anal canal typically ranges from 2.5 to 4 centimeters.
—Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anal
Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 30 May 2025
Opening of the anal canal: The opening of the canal length is approximately 1.5 centimeters during rectal emptying.
—Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 20 Feb. 2025
There are no standardized tests for men, but options include penile swabs and anal swabs.
—Cat Wang, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
The length of the anal canal typically ranges from 2.5 to 4 centimeters.
—Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anal
Adjective
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And Williams really stuck the landing by disclosing a relatable flaw: obsessive rule-following.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
20 June 2025
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Even the most obsessive dancing queen will find fresh storytelling and breadth in these pages.—
EW Staff Published,
EW.com,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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Among the holdouts are members of the SALT Caucus, who have been adamant that any deal from the Senate that does not match the one that passed the House is dead on arrival.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
27 June 2025
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President Donald Trump has been adamant his tariffs will bring factory jobs back to American shores.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Officials accomplished this by re-evaluating risk, putting strict limits on how long a person can be held in isolation and expanding behavioral health programs.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 June 2025
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The train itself is powered by energy-efficient DX-class diesel-electric locomotives, and the carrier maintains strict environmental protocols, including waste minimization and recycling practices on board.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anal. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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