1
as in interim
intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time
will form a provisional government until a new leader can be elected
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in temporary
serving in a position for the time being
he was appointed provisional executor of the industrialist's vast estate
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Recent Examples of provisional
Other words and phrases signify the provisional, the unknowable, and the uncertain: counting alternatives; misunderstandings; no vantage point.
—
Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 May 2025
The election results remain provisional until the union’s national executive board accepts a report on the election at its June 21 meeting.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2025
The provisional agreement allows for the joint management of fisheries but bars activities not related to fishing or navigation.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
Maternal mortality improved for the first time in 2023, dropping from 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022 to 18.6, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provisional
Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 May 2025
The election results remain provisional until the union’s national executive board accepts a report on the election at its June 21 meeting.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2025
The provisional agreement allows for the joint management of fisheries but bars activities not related to fishing or navigation.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
Maternal mortality improved for the first time in 2023, dropping from 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022 to 18.6, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provisional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provisional
Adjective
-
Hopefully, these interim agreements will be designed with certainty in mind for businesses and consumers.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
-
Meanwhile, Murati’s interim position was being challenged.—
Karen Hao,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
Fears of a slide back towards authoritarian rule were hardened by a temporary constitution focusing power in his hands.—
Tom Perry,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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The 25-year-old singer has gotten a temporary restraining order against her ex-boyfriend and baby Halo’s father due to alleged physical and verbal abuse.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provisional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provisional. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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