residuals

noun

plural of residual
1
as in residues
a remaining group or portion They tested for chemical residuals in the water.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in reminders
a lingering indication of something from the past Some modern traditions are residuals of ancient beliefs and rituals.

Related 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 residuals Actors 65 years and older who vested their pensions could no longer count their earnings from residuals in the annual threshold. — Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026 The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act would apply to compensation paid directly related to a production, excluding residuals. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026 And while some nights are replacing reruns of other shows, that means lower residuals for creatives, with broadcast reruns usually paying out the largest amounts for writers, actors and others involved. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026 Seeing titles licensed to cable is super important for residuals for DGA and IATSE members and a big source of many members’ income. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026 Matthew McConaughey has this beloved romantic comedy to thank for most of his residuals. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 14 Aug. 2026 Members of other industry unions also get residuals, either directly — for SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America — or in the form of contributions to their pension and health funds, for IATSE and other below-the-line unions. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for residuals
  1. residues
  2. reminders
  3. remnants
  4. artifacts
Noun
  • The shelf with personal items has a buildup of food residues and flour dust.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The binder dissolved, allowing the electrode coatings to separate cleanly from their metal foils without leaving residues.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of residues
Noun
  • Following the Black Death in medieval Europe, memento mori, symbolic reminders of death’s inevitability, further ubiquitized skulls in art and architecture.
    — Livia Caligor, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Preparing reminders and follow-ups for the responsible people 4.
    — Nikhil Chandankhede, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of reminders
Noun
  • But rather than dispose of the fragments, the congregation gave the remnants of the window a new purpose.
    — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
  • One of the remnants is estimated to be no larger than the size of the average solar system asteroid, while the other is estimated to be between the size of the moon and the dwarf planet Pluto.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of remnants
Noun
  • Gallery visitors were careful not to step on the sprawling assemblage of photographs, drawings and artifacts scattered across the floor.
    — Jane Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The textbook was one of many artifacts that revealed just how much research went into Christie’s work — and tangible proof that the author had a deep understanding of medications and deadly chemical concoctions, Rowland said.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of artifacts

Browse Nearby Words

residual
residuals
residue
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Residuals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/residuals. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of effrontery

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All