periodical 1 of 2

adjective

ˌpir-ē-ˈä-di-kəl How to pronounce periodical (audio)
Definition of periodicalnext
1
as in serial
appearing in parts or numbers that follow regularly a periodical town newsletter that is supported by local advertisers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in recurrent
occurring or appearing at intervals periodical announcements from airline personnel concerning the delay

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in frequent
appearing or occurring repeatedly from time to time periodical visits to the dentist will help keep your teeth healthy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

periodical

2 of 2

noun

as in newspaper
a publication that appears at regular intervals subscribed to three new periodicals

Synonyms & Similar 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 periodical
Adjective
The Boys has been a key to Dynamite’s commercial fortunes going back to the earliest days of the periodical comic. — Rob Salkowitz, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2026 Beginning in the 1890s, three successive Henry Wallaces — father, son, and grandson — held the editor’s pen at the influential periodical, Wallaces’ Farmer. — Andrew Klumpp, Des Moines Register, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
Heuermann is an avid ready of books and periodicals, Toulon told ABC News. — Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 4 June 2026 In mainstream periodicals of the day such as Current Opinion and The Literary Digest, critics derided both jazz music and the Black musicians who played it. — Literary Hub, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for periodical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for periodical
  1. serial
  2. recurrent
  3. frequent
  4. newspaper
  5. serialized
  6. recurring
  7. periodic
  8. journal
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, a serial killer is haunting the streets of Los Angeles and targeting their classmates.
    — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
  • For her latest case, Bridgette is dispatched to the remote East Texas town of Whisper Creek, where a long-dormant serial killer known as The Flower King has resurfaced.
    — William Earl, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of serial
Adjective
  • Joan Baez, yet another famous fan, emerges as one of the diary’s recurrent characters, and a kind of guiding spirit for this metamorphosis.
    — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2026
  • People with recurrent kidney stones or kidney disease should be more cautious, especially with strong black tea, and follow their healthcare provider’s advice on fluids, sodium, calcium, and diet.
    — MD Published, Verywell Health, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of recurrent
Adjective
  • Culturelle probiotics tend to be cheaper than Align products and are ideal for those with frequent diarrhea.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Branch staff and similar roles remained fully in-person along with jobs involving frequent travel or client meetings, while senior leadership was expected to continue working consistently from the office.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of frequent
Noun
  • Ink stars Jack O’Connell as late newspaper editor Larry Lamb, with Guy Pearce as media mogul Murdoch.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Duran is a former newspaper reporter who spent 15 years working in democratic politics with Dianne Feinstein, Jerry Brown and Kamala Harris before returning to journalism.
    — Tonya Mosley, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of newspaper
Adjective
  • Microdramas take familiar principles from television, recurring characters, episodic narratives, dramatic tension, and serialized storytelling, and adapt them to the habits of mobile audiences.
    — Novika Ishar, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • There’s some wisdom in not having a rape threat hover over ten hours of serialized television, and the shift has opened up some thorny connections between Cady and Anna Bowden, whose pasts continue to intersect in intriguing ways.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 17 July 2026
Definition of serialized
Adjective
  • Excluding non-recurring events, the magnitude of the average S & P 500 earnings surprise for the quarter is still about 11%.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The Bell Street Bridge encampment was prioritized for closure as part of Downtown Rising – the first phase of Atlanta Rising, a multi-year campaign launched in 2025 to end unsheltered homelessness citywide and make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring.
    — Emily McLeod, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
Definition of recurring
Adjective
  • This meteor shower is known for being plentiful and is part of the debris stream of the periodic comet Swift-Tuttle, which takes 133 years to orbit the Sun.
    — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
  • After methodically growing its business over nearly three decades and doing periodic tuck-in acquisitions, Lionsgate has assembled 20,000 film and TV titles in its library, which topped $1 billion in revenue in the most recent fiscal year.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of periodic
Noun
  • For example, Scholars build self-awareness journals, reflecting on emotions, triggers, situations, and responses.
    — Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The research was published on Monday in the journal iScience.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of journal

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Periodical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/periodical. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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