as in obsessive
extremely or overly neat, careful, or precise
I've always been anal about arranging my books alphabetically by author.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anal
Sitz baths, done by soaking the anal area in warm water, may provide comfort and reduce itching in the anal area.
—
Qin Rao, Verywell Health, 18 Oct. 2024
All anal toys should have a flared base as a safety precaution.
—Amanda Chatel, Glamour, 25 Feb. 2025
Lorain police obtained two warrants to force doctors to search a suspect’s anal cavity.
—Jon Schuppe, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2025
Hartman acts as Gene, who is... well, anal retentive.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anal
Qin Rao, Verywell Health, 18 Oct. 2024
All anal toys should have a flared base as a safety precaution.
—Amanda Chatel, Glamour, 25 Feb. 2025
Lorain police obtained two warrants to force doctors to search a suspect’s anal cavity.
—Jon Schuppe, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2025
Hartman acts as Gene, who is... well, anal retentive.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anal
Adjective
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The chef, Travis Lett, was obsessive about nearly everything—produce, sourcing, seasonality, herbs, spices, the chewiness of a hunk of sourdough or a pizza crust—and this obsessiveness resulted in a restaurant that was more or less flawless.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2025
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According to those close to Selena, Saldívar began to show obsessive behavior.—
Kelsie Gibson,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Since then, White House officials have remained adamant about sticking by Hegseth, even as criticism has mounted in recent weeks and questions about his judgment have resurfaced.—
Ellen Mitchell,
The Hill,
22 Apr. 2025
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Despite the significant decline, the Trump administration is adamant about shoring up the border to ensure it is left secure before leaving office.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Augusta National Golf Club, where the tournament takes place each April, has a strict no cell phone and cameras rule during the four days of official competition.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
18 Apr. 2025
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So Read, a 56-year-old sexologist and writer based in Calgary, Canada, developed a strict sleep and bedtime routine.—
Erica Sweeney,
SELF,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anal. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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