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
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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
Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 3 July 2025
Others include limitations on the size of a nation’s government deficit and debt ratio, its average nominal long-term interest rate and its exchange rate stability.
—Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 4 June 2025
At the time of the move, which for Indiana came at the nominal cost of a 2031 second-round pick swap, both Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle cited how a change of scenery could benefit the 2017 second-round pick out of Indiana.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 2 June 2025
Here’s why: Although technical specifications are still being worked out, the new standard could deliver nominal peak data rates of more than 40Gbps.
—Sarah Lord, PC Magazine, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nominal
Noun
Yes, Opry members are paid a nominal fee for each performance.
—Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 3 July 2025
Others include limitations on the size of a nation’s government deficit and debt ratio, its average nominal long-term interest rate and its exchange rate stability.
—Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 4 June 2025
At the time of the move, which for Indiana came at the nominal cost of a 2031 second-round pick swap, both Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle cited how a change of scenery could benefit the 2017 second-round pick out of Indiana.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 2 June 2025
Here’s why: Although technical specifications are still being worked out, the new standard could deliver nominal peak data rates of more than 40Gbps.
—Sarah Lord, PC Magazine, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nominal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nominal
Adjective
-
Along with the news, the streamer shared the first photo of lead actor Dominic McLaughlin in costume as the titular character.—
Julia Moore,
People.com,
14 July 2025
-
Lintz of course co-starred opposite Titus Welliver on Prime Video’s Bosch and then its spinoff Bosch: Legacy, playing the titular LAPD detective turned P.I.’s daughter, Maddie, who over the course of 10 total seasons went from tragedy- and crisis-prone teen to a patrolman for the LAPD.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
Car buyers are benefiting from a slight downturn in interest rates, too.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
31 July 2025
-
Students' reading scores statewide, however, only showed slight drops from 2022 to 2024, but showed a continued lack of recovery from pandemic lows.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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
-
Budget Accordingly: The cost difference between having your expert analyze complete files versus summary reports is negligible—especially considering thorough expert analysis could prevent a trucking case from going nuclear.—
Lars Daniel,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
The threat of a shoe bomb, while real in the early 2000s, is so low risk as to be negligible.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
One nautical mile west of Santorini, opposite the village of Oia and the caldera, lies the tiny island of Therasia, accessible via boat departing from Ammoudi Bay.—
Monica Mendal,
Vogue,
15 July 2025
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The film community of Vancouver Island is tiny compared to the City of Vancouver’s Hollywood North hub.—
Jennie Punter,
Variety,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
Without wanting to trivialize egregious breaches of sovereignty like the invasion of Ukraine, most are undeniably petty.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
25 July 2025
-
The disappearance of dozens of shopping carts, the closure of self-checkout lanes, and a visible rise in shoplifting, panhandling, loitering and petty crime left customers, managers and officials at City Hall all trading blame.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nominal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nominal. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
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