1
as in ceremonial
following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules
a formal meeting of the board of directors a formal contract that was legally binding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
3
as in ceremonious
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details
gave her a formal invitation to dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in dress
relating to or suitable for wearing to an event requiring elegant dress and manners
the dress code is formal for tonight's event a shop that rents out formal wear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in eloquent
very dignified in form, tone, or style
the formal language of the coronation ceremony
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of formal
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2026
Directed by Tom George, the 22-minute adventure doesn’t bend over backward forcing you to notice its formal ambitions.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
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
Adjective
There is no formal campaign against the earnings tax and the tax has historically passed overwhelmingly.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2026
Directed by Tom George, the 22-minute adventure doesn’t bend over backward forcing you to notice its formal ambitions.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
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
-
Gone is the entry pylon at the south end of the park, a sculpture that played a much-too-obscure ceremonial role and not much else.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The ceremonial first pitch was delivered by Thing, the disembodied hand character from Netflix’s popular series Wednesday.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Walger will appear in the series take on the popular video games alongside series leads Ryan Hurst as Kratos, the titular god of war, and Callum Vinson as his young son, Atreus.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The titular gaslights in Paula's home are actually a way out for the victim.—
Emma Bowman,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The ones named Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion by the judges make a ceremonious visit at the end of the day to the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa in downtown Denver.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
21 Jan. 2026
-
More convincing in the film is cinematographer Talant Akynbekov’s observant, almost ceremonious lensing of carpet weaving, as well as of the beats of everyday life, sometimes accompanied by the traditional tunes villagers hum.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
23 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Several board members commended the speakers and noted that the students were eloquent in their speeches.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Under this alignment of eloquent Mercury and unstoppable Mars in your in-depth 8th house, those connections could use a bit of extra attention.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Nova senior Jayla Huntley-Murphy, 18, was glad that all of her classmates can enjoy the prom without having to worry about the cost.—
Alie Skowronski,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
-
What color dress did Neal Begovich’s date wear to his senior prom?—
Storey Wertheimer,
NBC news,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The potential ground operation would reportedly fall short of a full-scale invasion but could involve raids by a mixture of Special Operations forces and conventional infantry troops, the officials were quoted as saying.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
-
But its conventional naval power looks severely degraded, while Western allies retain strong minesweeping capabilities that could be deployed to keep global trade flowing.—
Newsweek Editors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Because a present that is over $100, Miss Manner assures you, is indeed meant for a wedding and not a shower, whose gifts are supposed to be more nominal.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
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In an alternative scenario, the cap would stay fixed in nominal dollar terms, in our examples at $100,000 or $70,000 sans bumps for the CPI, for 20 or 30 years, and after those intervals grow in tandem with wages.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Westcott said some of the subdivisions along the creek were built in the 1960s and 1970s when proper drainage was an afterthought and fences were installed in floodways.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Hayden said that Charles failed to execute proper safety protocols while Joseph crossed the street.—
Anna Meiler,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Formal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formal. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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