FEDERAL Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

federal 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of federal

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

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Dissimilar Words

Federal

2 of 2

noun

as in fed

Related Words

as in Confederate

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

civilian

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

Adjective

Shea Whigham provides exceptional levels of Shea Whigham-ness as a friendly federal agent (and ex-client) whose health issues elicit deeper conversations than their professional obligations require. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026 Advertisement Over the last year, much of the conversation about regulation has focused on its costs to the federal budget and firm productivity. — Corinne Low, Time, 7 Aug. 2026 Now, the clamor over unregulated peptides has become a high-stakes policy battle within the federal government. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026 The Texas branch of the NAACP has asked a federal appeals court to consider reversing monetary sanctions levied against attorneys who sued the Keller school board over voter discrimination claims. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for federal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for federal

Adjective

Kmele Foster is a media entrepreneur, commentator, and regular contributor to various national publications.

— Big Think, Big Think, 6 Aug. 2026
Adding in the other states that have reported cases, the national total stands at over 25,000.

— CBS News, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of national

Noun

No one was giving the G-men an iota of a chance, but thanks to a brilliant game by New York's front four, the Patriots were clinging to just a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2026
Jessica Hecht, playing one of the hostages, adds her typically off-beat depth, and I was most amused by John Ortiz as the FBI agent with the standard G-man voice and personality to match.

— Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026

Definition of G-man

Noun

He was drafted at 18 and, after the war, pursued singing at the American Theatre Wing—an education funded by the GI Bill.

— Eleni N. Gage, Architectural Digest, 3 Aug. 2026
Ranking fourth best in the country were Northwestern’s gastroenterology and GI surgery, geriatrics, and pulmonary and lung surgery programs.

— Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of GI

Adjective

Yu will be responsible for overseeing the business, legal and governmental affairs strategies and activities for the company globally, and succeeds Julie Swidler, who stepped down from the post earlier this summer.

— Jem Aswad, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
National Night Out is hosted throughout the first Tuesday in August across the United States to support public services such as law enforcement, emergency responders and governmental agencies.

— Zaire Breedlove, Charlotte Observer, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of governmental

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
The software, which would effectively act like a narc embedded on people’s iPhones, could have unintended consequences, critics said, despite Apple’s assurances that it would be used solely to stop child predators.

— Declan Harty, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2021

Definition of narc

Noun

This imaging test uses a tracer that attaches to PSMA proteins, allowing doctors to identify where prostate cancer cells may be located throughout the body.

— Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 15 June 2026
Many health care workers served longer, harder deployments than mine — Sierra Leonean nurses, Guinean contact tracers, Liberian community health workers — and carried equal or greater burdens, yet Americans rarely heard their stories.

— Krutika Kuppalli, STAT, 20 May 2026

Definition of tracer

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

Definition of plainclothesman

Noun

One kitten was found dead in the roadway, while a second suffered a dislocated tail and scratches to its ears and was treated by veterinarians.

— Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
This method would even allow attackers to decrypt any future passkeys, giving them a long tail if undetected.

— Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of tail

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Style

“Federal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/federal. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of federal

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

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