as in serialized
appearing in parts or numbers that follow regularly
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" first appeared as a serial novel from 1851 to 1852
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in periodical
a publication that appears at regular intervals
the university library has a vast collection of serials
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 serial
Casey Schwartz, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
Schiltz had previously described ICE as a serial violator of court orders related to the enforcement surge.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
Lillard is perhaps known for portraying Stu Macher — one-half of the horror-obsessive-turned-serial-killing duo, alongside Skeet Ulrich’s Billy Loomis — in the 1996 original, which has since spawned a decades-long franchise.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for serial
Adjective
Less rewarding is Braude’s decision to braid into the narrative the story of a German serial killer, Eugen Weidmann, whose 1939 execution by guillotine was covered by Flanner.
—Casey Schwartz, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
Schiltz had previously described ICE as a serial violator of court orders related to the enforcement surge.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
Fantomas was first adapted for the big screen by into a silent crime film serial directed by Louis Feuillade for Gaumont in 1913.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
Lillard is perhaps known for portraying Stu Macher — one-half of the horror-obsessive-turned-serial-killing duo, alongside Skeet Ulrich’s Billy Loomis — in the 1996 original, which has since spawned a decades-long franchise.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for serial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for serial
Adjective
-
The first cast member was just confirmed, the creative team has deep roots in series-building, and the premise leans into darker, more serialized storytelling than the monster-of-the-week formula most viewers know.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Over 300,000 creators published stories on the platform in the past year using its AI suite, which includes a Planner Agent, Context Agent and Drama Agent for serialized fiction.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The periodical, which began in 1818 in Maine, has long covered a wide variety of topics, including long-range weather forecasts, moon phases and astronomy, gardening advice, recipes, and practical advice.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Designate a place near the entryway for all mail, periodicals, and paper forms.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Lots of the amenities, though (like the custom newspaper that tells you what to do in the area), are designed for self-sufficient guests.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Trump held the real newspaper in his other hand, while Mamdani stood next to him.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The intriguing finding, published Thursday in the journal Science, could help explain why the Neanderthal ancestry that is present in humans today is unevenly distributed across the genome.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
-
In 2021, Gefen and her colleagues published research in the journal Cerebral Cortex showing that super-agers are resistant to neurofibrillary, or tau, tangles, which are abnormal protein buildups tied to Alzheimer’s.—
Lindsey Leake,
NBC news,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The service Given that the hotel is so rural, the concierge team is especially good at recommending local sites and day trips, and is great about calling ahead to book for you.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The new episodes will feature new celebrities and books, which will be announced at a later date.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Time magazine’s Nik Popli looked closely at how Talarico and Crockett were working to convert their online followings into votes and good news cycles.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Mercy named to Newsweek list Newsweek magazine named the Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas in Rogers one of the World's Best Hospitals, recognizing it for its ongoing commitment to high-quality care, patient experience and clinical excellence among top-tier hospitals worldwide.—
Mark Mondier,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Serial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serial. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
