1
as in residue
a remaining group or portion
They tested for chemical residuals in the water.
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2
as in reminder
a lingering indication of something from the past
Some modern traditions are residuals of ancient beliefs and rituals.
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as in lingering
still existing or happening after something is completed or removed
The oven was still warm with residual heat. The area is still dealing with the residual effects of the flood.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of residual
Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 3 May 2026
In early April, the WGA and AMPTP reached a tentative agreement, which included AI safeguards and an uptick in fees and residuals for streaming.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 2 May 2026
Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 3 May 2026
The union has also been trying to increase the residual bonuses for performers who appear on hit shows on streaming.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for residual
Noun
Many actors rely on residuals to supplement their income until their next job arrives, but in the streaming era, those payments have plummeted, SAG-AFTRA has said.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 3 May 2026
In early April, the WGA and AMPTP reached a tentative agreement, which included AI safeguards and an uptick in fees and residuals for streaming.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 2 May 2026
Adjective
For the rest of the afternoon, my hands sparkled with the residual evidence.
—Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 3 May 2026
The union has also been trying to increase the residual bonuses for performers who appear on hit shows on streaming.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for residual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for residual
Noun
-
Several areas in the facility were unclean with excess grease/debris/residue including brown spill stains on top of the microwave and the floor below the main cook line.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
May 8,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2026
-
Gunpowder residue on her husband's collar suggests he was shot.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Even though the major indices recovered mostly by the close, the intraday damage in semis, small caps, and long-duration growth stocks was a reminder of how quickly a narrow, crowded market can unwind when investors head for the exit.—
Tony Zhang,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
-
In a world living in the shadow of the mushroom cloud, the vault was a grim reminder that after nearly two hundred years, the American experiment needed to be defended.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Thomas missed 57 games last season, mostly because of the same lingering left hamstring issue.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
On the one hand, that means that many survive the disease without serious lingering effects.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
18 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
While there are traces of the home’s original state, including remnants of wallpaper under the basement stairs, much has been changed in the Prevost family’s absence.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
Now, however, the team behind the new research believes the events are caused when a compact stellar remnant, like a black hole or a neutron star, slams into the universe's hottest class of star, massive stellar bodies called Wolf-Rayet stars.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
And there are valid questions about what lasting impact there may be for the Kansas City area, particularly in terms of future regional transportation concepts that KC2026 hopes will take root.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 May 2026
-
Whether students are trying a sport for the first time or preparing for a competitive season, this summer’s camps and clinics promise an environment where every Falcon can develop skills, build connections, and make lasting memories.—
Cullen Gibson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
The presence of gold suggests that these artifacts were owned by the elite, indicating the social class of the individual who deposited the rings in what appears to be a purposeful manner, as reported by Archaeology News.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
10 May 2026
-
The question of how Venus’s atmosphere affects probes isn’t just about the past—the list of artifacts may be growing soon because more probes are set to land on Venus.—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Residual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/residual. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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