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

Relevance
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
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 After the last couple of years of periodical cicada activity, this year brings a pleasant break from periodical brood activity. — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
However, these publications predated the widespread use of the term magazine for periodicals. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 May 2026 Her parents ran a print shop for a newspaper and Buddhist periodicals. — John Mok, Vogue, 6 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
  • Or the time a serial killer, who was actually Marlena under hypnosis, seemed to kill several beloved characters.
    — Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Although the plot of the film is fictional, the character of Leatherface was inspired by the American grave robber and serial killer Ed Gein.
    — Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026
Definition of serial
Adjective
  • Lewis said he was diagnosed in the mid-1990s after years of suffering recurrent vertigo attacks.
    — Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 10 July 2026
  • The nature of fatherhood is a recurrent preoccupation in McElwee’s work.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 July 2026
Definition of recurrent
Adjective
  • To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
  • Callstrom also gets frequent questions from staff about what AI tools will mean for jobs.
    — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
Definition of frequent
Noun
  • Our new neighbors have been out of town for several weeks, and their newspapers keep piling up outside their home.
    — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 13 July 2026
  • With the only Black newspaper in town gone, there was no one to refute that false narrative.
    — Lee Cowan, CBS News, 12 July 2026
Definition of newspaper
Adjective
  • Genre has been a dominant publishing force since at least the nineteenth century, with pulp magazines and serialized paperbacks providing mass entertainment for readers of almost any age and demographic.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 8 July 2026
  • The workflow is designed specifically for serialized formats, with support for recurring characters, multi-episode continuity, and high-volume studio output – functions that generic AI video tools have not prioritized.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 23 June 2026
Definition of serialized
Adjective
  • 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
  • This was and is a non-recurring, cyclical business totally dependent on transaction volumes, which fluctuate with economic cycles and interest rates.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026
Definition of recurring
Adjective
  • In Florida, a person found not guilty by reason of insanity may be placed on conditional release, which requires a treatment plan and periodic monitoring.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
  • The whole periodic chart of elements and metals and all kinds of chemical concoctions found their way into the ground and the groundwater.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of periodic
Noun
  • The results were published Monday in the journal Nature Astronomy.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 July 2026
  • The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026
Definition of journal

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Cite this Entry

“Periodical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/periodical. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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