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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of categorical
Describing something as ‘wrong’ or ‘bad’ tends to fall into more of a rigid categorical thinking narrative.
—
Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
In 1911, Sombart returned with an even more categorical case for ethnic determinism.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Politically motivated uses of force are a categorical assault on individual rights and on the American method of persuasion over force.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
However, Brentwood city staff had determined that the project qualifies for a categorical exemption.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for categorical
Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
In 1911, Sombart returned with an even more categorical case for ethnic determinism.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Politically motivated uses of force are a categorical assault on individual rights and on the American method of persuasion over force.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
However, Brentwood city staff had determined that the project qualifies for a categorical exemption.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for categorical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for categorical
Adjective
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Validation, on the other hand, is unconditional.—
Julie Kratz,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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According to Rhode Island General Laws, Section 6-13-10, this merchandise can be considered an unconditional gift without any obligation on the recipient's part to the sender.—
Bailey Allen,
The Providence Journal,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Byrd was a stud today, an absolute stud.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
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The book picks up in the aftermath, leading you no closer to an absolute answer but through the tangled impossibility of ever fully knowing another person.—
Chloe Schama,
Vogue,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
El Capitan is a roughly 3,000-foot sheer granite wall — more than twice the height of the Empire State Building — in the northern valley of Yosemite National Park in California.—
Melissa Gaffney,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
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The sheer size and scope of the site presented a range of logistical challenges ahead of the reopening.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In such a world, simple answers won’t do; only the courage to ask the hardest questions will push us forward.—
Daphne Koller,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
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Knox, who committed to wrestle at Rutgers University, and his dad were initially charged with simple assault for purposely/knowingly causing bodily injury after a brawl broke out at Collingswood High School on February.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The barrage of images broadcast out of Minneapolis and surrounding regions depict violent and brutal encounters and capture moments of utter fear, pain and confusion.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
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Overall, though, Payton showed an utter unwillingness to trust his backfield against one of the league’s worst rushing defenses in the Bills.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
19 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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However, measuring a qubit causes its superposition to collapse into a single, definite state.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
25 Jan. 2026
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So probably not, but also a definite possibility.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Despite the beat, total revenue fell 3 percent year over year, marking the company’s first annual decline.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
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Renewables accounted for over 90% of total power expansion in 2024.—
Vaishali Nigam Sinha,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Read on for the complete list of winners and nominees.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
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His plans are complete, and permits are moving forward.—
Sarah Alegre,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Categorical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/categorical. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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