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
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 nominal
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
Today, his brother Raúl Castro is 94, and Cuba’ s nominal president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, is an obscure bureaucrat who has a hard time keeping his audiences awake.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nominal
Adjective
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
Today, his brother Raúl Castro is 94, and Cuba’ s nominal president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, is an obscure bureaucrat who has a hard time keeping his audiences awake.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nominal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nominal
Adjective
-
The actor played Gene Cousineau on the dark crime comedy — the odd, unpredictable acting coach of Bill Hader's titular killer, Barry Berkman.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
-
In recent years, there’s been a Denzel Washington–starring Othello, Rachel Zegler’s Romeo + Juliet, and Daniel Craig as the titular Macbeth.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There used to be a down season in Edinburgh, when Scotland's capital city—with its beautiful Gothic buildings, cobblestoned Royal Mile, and 12th-century castle keeping watch on a hilltop—caught a slight breather from tourists.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Down two goals against an opponent also full of NHL players, the tournament favorite did not look the slightest bit shook.—
Stephen Whyno,
Hartford Courant,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
With his substantive, agreeably granular bass, David Grogan gave prophetic warnings real authority.—
Dallas News,
Dallas News,
23 Dec. 2022
Adjective
-
So releasing him would bring negligible cap savings, unless he’s designated as a post-June 1 cut.—
Joseph Person,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Stevia is zero-calorie and tends to have a more neutral metabolic and gut health profile, while Splenda products may contain negligible calories and show mixed metabolic effects.—
Verywell Health,
Verywell Health,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The tiny tip gives you flexibility to fill and shape your brows for a bold look or something more minimal with just a little enhancement and color.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
20 Feb. 2026
-
These particles are covered with tiny chain-like structures that interact with metal ions in solution.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Anyone who takes or abandons a shopping cart can be convicted of a petty misdemeanor.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Vanderpump Rules features all the petty drama of Real Housewives with a messy cast of (very flawed) characters who make plenty of mistakes and get into more than their fair share of conflict.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nominal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nominal. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
