as in national
of or relating to a federation or to its central government
A federal system of government distributes power between a country's central and regional governments. The President, Congress, and the Supreme Court are all part of the federal government of the United States.
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as in nark
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2
as in Confederate
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of federal
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2025
Even as federal support wanes, state policies and utility mandates will continue to fuel the clean energy movement.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Such an effect could sink Adams further, given his association with Trump, which has only grown greater since the federal government has involved itself in his case.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2025
This is a core manifestation of fascism — using federal forces to put down dissent.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for federal
Adjective
However, federal law requires each milk bottle at the grocery store to have a plant code on it.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2025
Even as federal support wanes, state policies and utility mandates will continue to fuel the clean energy movement.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Such an effect could sink Adams further, given his association with Trump, which has only grown greater since the federal government has involved itself in his case.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2025
This is a core manifestation of fascism — using federal forces to put down dissent.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for federal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for federal
Adjective
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The proclamation notes there are exceptions for green-card holders, existing visa holders, certain visa categories, and individuals who serve American national interests.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
5 June 2025
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Trump and others have defended the initial ban on national security grounds, arguing it was aimed at protecting the country and not founded on anti-Muslim bias.—
Chris Megerian,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
Noun
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The Colorado quarterback had once teased being picked by the New York Giants, wearing custom red, white and blue cleats during a game when the G-men were the top candidate for the first overall pick.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
25 Apr. 2025
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Cameron directed Arnold Schwarzenegger in this influential action pic about a family man who also happens to be a G-man.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The phone number is run by GI Rights Network, a coalition of non-profit, non-governmental organizations who provide free support to veterans and their families.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
8 June 2025
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From the Bonus Army of 1932 to the battles for the GI Bill and Agent Orange care, veterans have always led the charge for justice.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
Noun
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You’re automatically dubbed a narc, a kiss-ass, a too-cool.—
Brandi California,
SPIN,
1 July 2024
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The software, which would effectively act like a narc embedded on people’s iPhones, could have unintended consequences, critics said, despite Apple’s assurances that it would be used solely to stop child predators.—
Declan Harty,
Fortune,
15 Oct. 2021
Noun
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Ball also said the tracer fire – ammunition containing a pyrotechnic charge illuminating its trajectory – seen in the GHF’s footage is consistent with the use of machine guns.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
4 June 2025
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But this lower end of the galactic scale is still rather murky, in part because the stars that serve as observable tracers of small galaxies can form even smaller structures called star clusters.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
8 May 2025
Noun
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Less than a month later, plainclothesmen arrested Nassar at a local tire store, and Munford took him into custody.—
Jason Schmidt,
Glamour,
30 Oct. 2018
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Hustling bucks and ducking the Third Division boys, those earnest young plainclothesmen assigned to the vice squad who work out of the 17th Precinct on the East Side.—
Gail Sheehy,
Daily Intelligencer,
9 Sep. 2017
Noun
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Spiny lobster tails make their way north from Marathon’s Key’s Fisheries.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2025
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Flying by the active asteroid could show exactly what processes are creating the dusty tails streaming from the object and might reveal possibilities scientists haven’t even considered, Kareta said.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
28 May 2025
Noun
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But the claim started to unravel as investigators talked to Morales Reyes, who doesn’t speak English fluently, and obtained a handwriting sample from him that was different from the handwriting in the letters, according to court documents.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2025
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Sacramento police investigators are still working to determine how the 36-year-old mother of four became fatally pinned between her sport utility vehicle and another car in a shopping center’s parking lot on Rush River Drive in Sacramento’s Pocket neighborhood Tuesday evening.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Federal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/federal. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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