variants
also categoric
as in unconditional
having no exceptions or restrictions
a categorical denial of the rumors that the celebrities were planning to get married
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 categorical
The bylaws contain categorical exclusions that prevent discretion in certain circumstances while allowing loopholes to be exploited in others.
—
Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2026
Jackson is categorical in his own defense.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
With no cup football or match load to hide behind, this was a firm, categorical choice by Farke to make Darlow his first choice and Perri his back-up.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2026
Psychological distress rarely maps cleanly onto categorical diagnoses.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for categorical
Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2026
Jackson is categorical in his own defense.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
With no cup football or match load to hide behind, this was a firm, categorical choice by Farke to make Darlow his first choice and Perri his back-up.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2026
Psychological distress rarely maps cleanly onto categorical diagnoses.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for categorical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for categorical
Adjective
-
The series poignantly addresses the complexities of teenage struggles, particularly through Justin’s undiagnosed ADHD and Keisha’s experience of trauma, emphasizing the importance of unconditional support and the intersection of mental health with race and class in today’s world.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The limited goal of bringing the regime to heel expanded immediately into its unconditional surrender and potential annihilation.—
Fintan O’Toole,
The New York Review of Books,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Arte Moreno and his then team president, John Carpino, were the absolute leaders in advocating that MLB needed to be as financially fan friendly as possible.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The growth was like an absolute vertical learning curve.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Lahav black ballgown with sheer black veil and beaded appliqués throughout.—
Alex Apatoff,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
-
And the sheer scale is unprecedented.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The overall aesthetic was slightly ascetic without being spartan—a pale, neutral color palette; simple, modern furniture; a few pieces of abstract art.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Apr. 2026
-
This translates to the Gap cardigan sweater and the Levi’s shorts paired with the flats for a simple, slightly elevated look that feels comfortable.—
Isis Briones,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And Taaffe has existed, for two months, in the carefree limbo that comes with the utter lack of choice over his future.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
-
This would be an utter disaster; 70% to 100% of the several countries in this region fully rely on desalination plants.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s a definite dichotomy between upstairs and downstairs.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The superstars dueled throughout to the delight of a sellout crowd that had their definite favorites.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Patriots entered Thursday with 11 total picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
In the wake of the Iranian attack on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, MarineTraffic tracking data shows an almost total standstill of vessels transiting through the waterway.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
No patio is complete without some decorative accessories, according to Kerith Flynn, the founder of Margali & Flynn Designs.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
19 Apr. 2026
-
On the other end, the Rockets were a complete mess, dissolving in two whining technical fouls in the third quarter that sealed their fate.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Categorical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/categorical. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
