Definition of servicenext
1
2
3
as in troops
the combined army, air force, and navy of a nation at the time the country had about a million men and women in the service

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in agency
a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization the OSS, the nation's wartime intelligence service

Synonyms & Similar Words

service

2 of 3

adjective

as in military
of or relating to the armed services spent his time in the army as a correspondent for service newspapers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

service

3 of 3

verb

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 service
Noun
The footage suggests that the brutal body slamming may be in service of a meal — or perhaps a form of play for the orcas, researchers reported Thursday in the journal Frontiers in Ethology. Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 23 July 2026 But there’s another option for travelers looking for a more intentional vacation where the ocean meets high-end service. Megan Dubois, Southern Living, 22 July 2026
Adjective
Head to the former gas station that is Joe’s or the counter-service joint Slap’s. Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026 The counter-service operation blends methods from across the Carolinas. Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
Fire Island, New York About halfway between New York City and the Hamptons, Fire Island doesn’t allow cars and there aren’t any traditional roads (though a very limited number of driving permits are offered to service and emergency vehicles). Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2026 Peptides are an almost entirely cash-pay drug economy, and Visa, Mastercard and Stripe would rather not service it. Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for service
Recent Examples of Synonyms for service
Noun
  • For the past two decades, watching Lionel Messi has been a joy, a privilege and a source of near-constant wonder.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • The philosopher Michael Sandel (Rhodes Scholar, Harvard professor) accuses elites of hiding their privilege behind spurious claims of merit.
    Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026
Noun
  • AlignSphere Ventures is asking the city for a conditional-use permit to build the hospital, as well as a development-agreement modification and a preliminary plat.
    Rose Evans July 24, Idaho Statesman, 24 July 2026
  • Rodríguez has even written to King Charles III, asking for the gold to be released for use in reconstruction efforts, though as a constitutional monarch he does not get involved in political disputes.
    German Padinger, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
Noun
  • During one particularly violent encounter in June 2024, China Coast Guard personnel brandished axes at Philippine troops and slashed their rubber boats.
    Ivan Watson, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
  • Trump met privately with the families of the troops before the transfer ceremony.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 23 July 2026
Noun
  • The Young Parents Project will close July 31 after Citrus Health Network, the lead agency overseeing Miami-Dade’s child welfare system and a partner of the program for five years, eliminated its $577,453 contract to help address a budget deficit.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • The sheriff's office said multiple agencies responded by deploying boats and emergency personnel to the scene.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2026
Adjective
  • Other military facilities were also hit, according to CENTCOM.
    Jomana Karadsheh, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
  • The defense plan calling for a 15 billion pound ($20 billion) spending boost is much smaller than military leaders had sought and has been criticized for not being fully funded under the current budget.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
Verb
  • But for one more summer, there’s Wednesday night hockey in the suburbs, the tickets are cheap, the autographs are free, and the arena is air conditioned in the midst of a brutal heat wave.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 17 July 2026
  • Trainer Cherie DeVaux, the first female to condition a Derby winner, has mapped out a plan for his next start in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 29.
    Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
Noun
  • Pannakara’s discourses on mindfulness and kindness in churchyards, town squares and in front of the Lincoln Memorial drew large, diverse crowds.
    Deepa Bharath, Fortune, 17 July 2026
  • Guitars take the place of shovels, as Henry now repays Carlos’ kindness by helping to save the land that Carlos assumes is ravaged.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • But as the risks posed by climate change have become more acute, this omission has limited the National Climate Assessment’s usefulness for leaders in business and government who might want – or need – to use it.
    Joe Árvai, The Conversation, 22 July 2026
  • The power station can support phones, cameras, lights, laptops, and other equipment around the campsite, extending the usefulness of the setup after the ride ends.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Service.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/service. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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