categorical

adjective

ˌka-tə-ˈgȯr-i-kəl How to pronounce categorical (audio)
variants also categoric
Definition of categoricalnext
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

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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 Jane’s belief in forgiveness crashes up against the far less categorical reality of a vicious world when the Lawsons are dropped into a situation of extreme terror. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026 Patel was pressed on the FBI’s hiring standards The FBI quietly issued guidance this past spring lifting a categorical hiring ban on applicants who had previously engaged in prostitution. — Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026 Patel was pressed on the FBI’s hiring standards The FBI quietly issued guidance this past spring lifting a categorical hiring restriction on applicants who had previously participated in prostitution. — Eric Tucker, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 The categorical slipperiness of concrete finds its echo in the unbounded experience of the building from within. — Katy Barkan, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for categorical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for categorical
  1. unconditional
  2. absolute
  3. sheer
  4. simple
  5. utter
  6. definite
  7. total
  8. complete
Adjective
  • Here, the defining aspect of Benjamin Button’s strange existence is love — lucky, steady, unconditional.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
  • In 2024, Michigan State launched Rx Kids, the country’s first universal and unconditional prenatal and infant cash program.
    — Mona Hanna, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of unconditional
Adjective
  • Add in the inconsistency of Green Bay’s rookie kicker, Trey Smack, and the points look like an absolute bargain.
    — Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Peter Berg previews upcoming 'Call of Duty' movie The absolute last thing anyone wants to see from Berg and Sheridan is a war movie that is anything less than gritty and excellent.
    — David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of absolute
Adjective
  • The tracks, the engineers, the data, the media attention, the sheer amount of racing—the Formula 1 World Championship consists of twenty-plus races, on five continents, in nine months.
    — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The silhouette was mostly formfitting and streamlined, with emphasis at the hips and waist and a continuation of the contrasting sheer, black fabric running down the column skirt.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of sheer
Adjective
  • The actor wore a long black leather coat over a simple black tank, paired with straight-leg blue jeans cinched with a leather belt.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The company played with flexible workdays instead of rigid schedules, clearer windows for collaboration, simpler rules for meetings, better ways to share and document work, and more intentional reasons for coming together in person.
    — Deborah Lovich, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of simple
Adjective
  • These accusations are utter nonsense, concocted from distortions, half-truths and lies.
    — Kathleen Parker, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The board’s first mission—to pacify and bring lawful governance to Gaza—has been an utter failure.
    — Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of utter
Adjective
  • Locals can buy memberships to hang at the pool (but not so many that hotel guests can’t get a chaise lounge), so the pool has a definite country-club vibe.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The side effect of being able to reduce the risk of cancerous skin cells and potentially prevent future skin cancers is a definite bonus as well.
    — Norah O'Donnell, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of definite
Adjective
  • Additionally, Nasdaq eliminated the rule requiring companies to have at least 10% of their total shares publicly traded, easing pressures on firms to issue additional shares and mitigating dilution risks for existing shareholders.
    — , CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Police estimate the group's total catch amounted to two pallets of frozen snow crab, or about 100 30-pound boxes of the frozen seafood.
    — Joe Brandt, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of total
Adjective
  • Ethiopia’s coffee authority is compiling data, but the process is not complete.
    — Damian Zane, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In practice, that can look like AI pulling together updates from ticketing systems, documentation, source control and incident platforms to give teams a more complete view of progress and risk.
    — Joel Burleson-Davis, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of complete

Browse Nearby Words

catechumens
categorical
categorically
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Cite this Entry

“Categorical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/categorical. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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