inaugural 1 of 2

adjective

i-ˈnȯ-gyə-rəl How to pronounce inaugural (audio)
Definition of inauguralnext
as in first
coming before all others in time or order the inaugural event in the city's week long festival honoring the sailing ships

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

inaugural

2 of 2

noun

as in inauguration
the process or an instance of being formally placed in an office or organization attended the inaugurals of the city's last three mayors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 inaugural
Adjective
David Bailey received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2026 In July 2025, while presenting the awards for the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup to Chelsea, he was accused of pocketing one of the championship medals. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
Noun
In Andrew Jackson's first inaugural, Andrew Jackson calls himself an instrument of the federal Constitution. — NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026 If fundraising is Global’s plan with its pair of inaugurals, leaving its A380 parked at JFK for four days between flights is an odd choice. — Edward Russell, CNN Money, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for inaugural
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inaugural
  1. first
  2. inauguration
  3. initial
  4. original
  5. maiden
  6. foremost
Adjective
  • Monday’s victory for the Braves was just their second in the last 11 games against the Padres and the first of this season after being swept in San Diego in June.
    — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 21 July 2026
  • Gen might have gotten away scot-free from the sheets incident in terms of optics — no one questions her involvement, even though her job description includes housekeeping — but karma hounds her during the first day of the charter.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 July 2026
Definition of first
Noun
  • Since Mamdani's inauguration, Republicans across the country have taken political jabs at the mayor and his policies.
    — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 17 July 2026
  • Also cited was Meledandri’s support for the inauguration of France‘s international tax credit in 2009.
    — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 15 July 2026
Definition of inauguration
Adjective
  • The initial proof of principle by the Normal team served as an inspiration for Whitelam, who recently reported a simulation of a nonequilibrium thermodynamic computing circuit.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 15 July 2026
  • The initial broadcast sparked protests and complaints from viewers, advertisers, and conservative activists, leading some CBS affiliates to exclude the episode from their lineup of reruns the following summer.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 July 2026
Definition of initial
Adjective
  • While Nielsen’s streaming rankings for the week of July 6 to 12 won’t be available for another month or so, early data from the measurement company puts The Five Star Weekend among the Top 5 original streaming series in that timeframe.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 17 July 2026
  • The original case dates back to the early hours of May 8, 1981, when Sebold, then a Syracuse University freshman, was brutally raped in a park near campus.
    — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 17 July 2026
Definition of original
Adjective
  • Jackson Suber, playing in his maiden Open Championship, shot a 5-under 65 to take the first-round lead.
    — Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 16 July 2026
  • Tony Vitello’s maiden voyage as a major league manager is a smoldering, uninsurable shipwreck.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 14 July 2026
Definition of maiden
Adjective
  • The executions have drawn attention to the ageing death-row population in the US, as well as Florida’s status as the foremost death penalty state.
    — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 16 July 2026
  • Among the most significant was the signing of a Letter of Intent between the Bharat Tex Trade Federation (BTTF) and Première Vision Paris, one of the world’s foremost textile and fashion sourcing platforms.
    — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 15 July 2026
Definition of foremost

Browse Nearby Words

inaudibly
inaugural
inaugurals
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Cite this Entry

“Inaugural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inaugural. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on inaugural

Nglish: Translation of inaugural for Spanish Speakers

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