1
as in titular
being something in name or form only
he was the nominal head of state—everyone knew the country was actually run by one of his advisers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slight
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention
when you pay $400 for an airline ticket, a ticketing fee of five dollars seems nominal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in substantive
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nominal
Mike Wall, Space.com, 14 Feb. 2026
This year, though, both LaHood and Bost are running unopposed in the March 17 GOP primary and Miller’s facing only nominal opposition.
—Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
With a population more than three times that of Ukraine and a nominal GDP roughly 10 times larger, Russia can absorb these horrifying losses far more readily than the Ukrainians.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
The source said the Heat were not willing to offload for nominal draft capital.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nominal
Adjective
Seven has been the nominal crew size on the ISS since 2020.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 14 Feb. 2026
This year, though, both LaHood and Bost are running unopposed in the March 17 GOP primary and Miller’s facing only nominal opposition.
—Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
With a population more than three times that of Ukraine and a nominal GDP roughly 10 times larger, Russia can absorb these horrifying losses far more readily than the Ukrainians.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
The source said the Heat were not willing to offload for nominal draft capital.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nominal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nominal
Adjective
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The actress would ultimately sign on to play the forthright broadcaster Veronica Corningstone opposite Will Ferrell's titular Burgundy.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The titular condition, which describes someone whose irises are fully or partially different colors, reportedly applies to Hevia Baillères.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The slight kitten heels add a feminine touch, while the open design keeps your feet cool all day long.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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Porcelain and ceramic tiles are both suitable, with porcelain offering a slight edge due to its better heat resistance.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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First Acts: From the symbolic to the substantive, here is a look at what nine new governors elected last year have done in their first weeks in office.—
Maggie Astor,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2023
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With his substantive, agreeably granular bass, David Grogan gave prophetic warnings real authority.—
Dallas News,
Dallas News,
23 Dec. 2022
Adjective
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For short-term exposure or portfolio diversification, those costs may be negligible — but long-term investors may want to weigh them carefully.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
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The rising popularity of LED bulbs—which use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs—means lighting is making up a smaller and smaller share of the nation’s energy budget, making DST gains negligible.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Interestingly, these tiny wonders can detect a temperature spike in 100 nanoseconds.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
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Two tiny humanoid robots that can play soccer stand in a glass case, one blinking and gesturing at visitors and the other partially disassembled to reveal the engineering inside.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
What is the pettiest thing that annoys you during a race weekend?—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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Travelers can also take additional steps by staying vigilant for petty crime, and moving throughout the city with extra awareness.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nominal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nominal. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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