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.
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as in Confederate
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of federal
Editorial, Boston Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
Anthropic hired the firm after the Pentagon designated the company a supply chain risk, according to federal disclosures.
—Ashley Capoot,lora Kolodny, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2026
The official stressed that any new technology that might be used by the federal government would require a technical period for evaluation.
—Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
The conservative top court is expected to rule this spring on whether to strike down much of the federal Voting Rights Act, the landmark civil rights law that opened the door to Black congressional representation in the Deep South.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for federal
Adjective
Non-defense discretionary programs include support for education and training, public health and medical research, food and nutrition programs, federal law enforcement, and so on.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
Anthropic hired the firm after the Pentagon designated the company a supply chain risk, according to federal disclosures.
—Ashley Capoot,lora Kolodny, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2026
The official stressed that any new technology that might be used by the federal government would require a technical period for evaluation.
—Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
The conservative top court is expected to rule this spring on whether to strike down much of the federal Voting Rights Act, the landmark civil rights law that opened the door to Black congressional representation in the Deep South.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for federal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for federal
Adjective
-
The case gained national attention, generated thousands of tips, and sparked online theories and debates that continue even today.—
Kelsy Mittauer,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
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Much of that vacant space sits in new buildings that went up during the building frenzy of 2021 and 2022, when developers, both local and national, built quickly to meet surging market demand.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The treasurer’s office collects tax dollars, tells the auditor’s office what was collected, and then the auditor distributes the funds to the governmental units, Petalas said.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
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Dustin Burrows, a Republican from Lubbock, directed the chamber’s governmental oversight committee to study the legal and economic implications of Texas absorbing one or more counties in eastern New Mexico.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Now the G-men head down there to collar Massachusetts cops — sheriffs and crooked state troopers.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
10 Aug. 2025
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Exactly what will happen to DC’s most polarizing building after the G-men move out is still not clear, although President Trump has suggested the FBI will eventually return.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
19 July 2025
Noun
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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
-
You’re automatically dubbed a narc, a kiss-ass, a too-cool.—
Brandi California,
SPIN,
1 July 2024
Noun
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Galvin is the counseling director at the Center on Conscience and War, which helps run the 24-hour GI Rights Hotline, set up to inform service members of their options for military discharge.—
Tom Bowman,
NPR,
10 Apr. 2026
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The backlogs are real for these clinics, Soni said, recalling one GI clinic that had a backlog of six months, and 4,000 procedures that were waiting to be scheduled, representing millions in revenue.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Aware has been using tracer particles and its blockchain technology for several years now, applying it to recycled cotton, denim and other materials.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Sourcing Journal,
30 Mar. 2026
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In the tense Lebanese capital, Beirut, Israeli surveillance drones buzz overhead while red tracer bullets light up the night skies, fired to warn residents of possible attacks.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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When Ginger sat, Kim noted that her tail tucked forward between her legs like a little seat.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
16 Apr. 2026
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Sluggish, tail-dragging, dim-witted behemoths were out, and hot-blooded dinos were in.—
Steve Brusatte,
Scientific American,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Federal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/federal. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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