formal 1 of 2

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as in titular
being something in name or form only was the formal head of the charitable organization though he never attended a single meeting

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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formal

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word formal distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of formal are ceremonial, ceremonious, and conventional. While all these words mean "marked by attention to or adhering strictly to prescribed forms," formal applies both to things prescribed by and to persons obedient to custom and may suggest stiff, restrained, or old-fashioned behavior.

a formal report
the headmaster's formal manner

How do ceremonial and ceremonious relate to one another, in the sense of formal?

Ceremonial and ceremonious both imply strict attention to what is prescribed by custom or by ritual, but ceremonial applies to things that are associated with ceremonies.

a ceremonial offering

When is ceremonious a more appropriate choice than formal?

While in some cases nearly identical to formal, ceremonious applies to persons given to ceremony or to acts attended by ceremony.

made his ceremonious entrance

When would conventional be a good substitute for formal?

In some situations, the words conventional and formal are roughly equivalent. However, conventional implies accord with general custom and usage and may suggest a stodgy lack of originality or independence.

conventional courtesy
conventional fiction

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 formal
Adjective
There, the 26-year-old who had long been fascinated with Africa and its animals – but had no formal higher education – began her groundbreaking work observing and studying these intellectual primates in their natural habitat. Tricia Escobedo, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025 There was no formal proclamation on Bichette’s ALDS status. Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
Strain went missing after being asked to leave Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink in downtown Nashville while on a trip to the city with the other members of the Delta Chi Fraternity for a spring formal. Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 18 June 2024 At the time of his disappearance, Strain and his fellow Delta Chi fraternity members traveled to Tennessee for the group’s annual formal. David Chiu, Peoplemag, 17 May 2024 See All Example Sentences for formal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formal
Adjective
  • Mullally also becomes the ceremonial head of some 85 million Anglicans worldwide, with the appointment of a woman risking deeper theological divides with some of the more conservative branches of the church in African nations.
    Muvija M, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Last month, the Pirates invited Markwood to throw out the ceremonial first pitch during a game against the Athletics.
    Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Marcello Hernandez leads this digital short as the titular tío, assisted by Bad Bunny in a costume that’s kind of Walton Goggins coded.
    Rima Parikh, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Both parks feature The Simpsons Ride, a motion simulator attraction that follows a 3D-version of the titular family as their visit to Krustyland goes off the rails.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The extended ovation following Kershaw’s ceremonious exit in the top of the fifth preceded the uncontrollable catharsis of Shohei Ohtani’s go-ahead home run in the bottom of the fifth, a three-run shot that pierced the Giants’ soul.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
  • Today is the eleven year anniversary of the release of Destiny, perhaps not as ceremonious as last year’s tenth anniversary, one that did not end the series, but Bungie presses on.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • His words are echoed by a man who goes back even further than the 74-year-old Roberts in commentator Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira, who has seen it all in more than 60 years as an eloquent voice of Caribbean cricket.
    Paul Newman, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Boggs’s biography, which foregrounds Baldwin’s deepest love relationships, is a moving and eloquent rejoinder to the decline narrative.
    Megan Marshall September 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Other clients on its books include Love Island contestants Laura Anderson and Liberty Pool, TikTok dance stars The Gardiner Brothers, and Kieron Conway, a Commonwealth champion boxer signed to Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Since signing to Matador, the band has sharpened its sound into a quirky, exhilarated alt-pop, too uncanny to be dance-punk and too lively to be slacker rock.
    Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • For drivers prioritizing affordability and conventional utility, models like the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 may be more suitable.
    Charles Singh, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Unlike conventional models that primarily rely on current atmospheric readings, Google’s AI system analyzes historical hurricane data to uncover patterns that might elude human forecasters.
    Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • There's a low nominal cost, but the fact is there was a really significant cost because of the bureaucracy and time and uncertainty, with a lot of companies tied up with it.
    Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
  • But analysts believe that figure was nominal if anything.
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Rogers police sent out a news release Thursday about Act 557 of 2025, which allows people get their money back from the kiosks if people follow the proper procedures.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Equipment is not maintained in good repair or does not allow for proper adjustment (Condensation build-up inside of reach-in cooler).
    Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Formal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formal. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

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