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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Dissimilar Words
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as in Confederate
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of federal
Theresa Clift
may 29, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
Many of the 56 provisions in the wide-ranging bill are regulatory in nature, such as streamlining environmental impact reviews and reducing the frequency of inspections for homes with tenants receiving federal rental assistance.
—Alex Schwartz, The Conversation, 29 May 2026
Hamilton was released shortly after her arrest, while Murphy remained in federal custody on Friday.
—Domingo Ramirez Jr, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026
The officer called someone to consult them about his case, likely federal authorities, as is standard in these sorts of traffic stops.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for federal
Adjective
Overdose deaths have been an ongoing issue at the jail, which has been under a federal Consent Decree since a 2019 class action lawsuit alleged medical and mental health mistreatment.
—Theresa Clift
may 29, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
Many of the 56 provisions in the wide-ranging bill are regulatory in nature, such as streamlining environmental impact reviews and reducing the frequency of inspections for homes with tenants receiving federal rental assistance.
—Alex Schwartz, The Conversation, 29 May 2026
Hamilton was released shortly after her arrest, while Murphy remained in federal custody on Friday.
—Domingo Ramirez Jr, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026
The officer called someone to consult them about his case, likely federal authorities, as is standard in these sorts of traffic stops.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for federal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for federal
Adjective
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Whatever proponents call these statutes, the national effect is the same.—
Yaël Ossowski,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
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If Stankiewicz’s Trojans return to the College World Series for the first time since 2001, the 12-time national champions must do it out of the losers’ bracket.—
Jose de Jesus Ortiz,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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Meeting that challenge demands permanent inter-governmental coordination units and not the current model of temporary structures standing down the moment a crisis ends.—
Daniele Nyirandutiye,
semafor.com,
1 June 2026
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The Declaration identifies, famously, that consent as the basis of governmental legitimacy.—
Britney Porter,
Forbes.com,
1 June 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
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You’re automatically dubbed a narc, a kiss-ass, a too-cool.—
Brandi California,
SPIN,
1 July 2024
Noun
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Matching the treatment to the symptom often works better than generic remedies, particularly when multiple GI side effects are happening at once.—
Samantha Agate,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
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Playford coauthored a few papers showing benefit from the supplement, including a small pilot study reporting that colostrum reduces some of the GI side effects of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, such as acid reflux and bloating.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
1 June 2026
Noun
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Manganese, a battery process tracer, can have neurological effects at chronic doses, the report stated.—
Arcelia Martin,
San Antonio Express-News,
27 Apr. 2026
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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
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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De Vie The hyper-seasonal, nose-to-tail dishes at De Vie are designed to pair alongside cocktails crafted from French and housemade spirits, and the nonalcoholic versions play just as large a role in the restaurant and bar’s living laboratory of infusions and tinctures.—
Lane Nieset,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
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Tail Partbreaker Increases part damage accumulated on breakable tails.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Federal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/federal. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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