1
as in titular
being something in name or form only
he was the nominal head of state—everyone knew the country was actually run by one of his advisers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slight
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention
when you pay $400 for an airline ticket, a ticketing fee of five dollars seems nominal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in substantive
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 nominal
Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025
The bottom line: On an absolute level, in nominal dollars, Black Americans have more wealth than ever — some $5.4 trillion in total.
—Ben Berkowitz, Axios, 17 Feb. 2025
Cultural battles are waged over single-gender bathrooms, diversity quotas, and female sports leagues — all under the same nominal movement.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 12 Feb. 2025
That term traditionally implies a nominal or even negligible sum of money, which this was not.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nominal
Adjective
This royal visit only encouraged it Israel occupies the West Bank but allows the Palestinian Authority nominal self-rule as part of a peace process in the 1990s that saw Palestinian factions end armed conflict with Israel with the promise of a future Palestinian state that remains unfulfilled.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025
The bottom line: On an absolute level, in nominal dollars, Black Americans have more wealth than ever — some $5.4 trillion in total.
—Ben Berkowitz, Axios, 17 Feb. 2025
Cultural battles are waged over single-gender bathrooms, diversity quotas, and female sports leagues — all under the same nominal movement.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 12 Feb. 2025
That term traditionally implies a nominal or even negligible sum of money, which this was not.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nominal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nominal
Adjective
-
Playing the titular lead is rising Turkish star Can Yaman.—
John Bleasdale,
Variety,
21 Feb. 2025
-
The titular teenage girl (played by Laeni Geiseler, a revelation) receives telepathic powers after she’s smacked in the face by her best friend.—
Scott Roxborough,
The Hollywood Reporter,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
But if Maxey asserts himself as a nightly threat to erupt for 25-plus points, Embiid could take a slight step back on offense next season.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
-
While some areas are seeing increases, others are experiencing stability or even slight declines, as the bulk of the seasonal transition has yet to significantly impact gasoline prices— certainly good news for motorists.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
First Acts: From the symbolic to the substantive, here is a look at what nine new governors elected last year have done in their first weeks in office.—
Maggie Astor,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2023
-
With his substantive, agreeably granular bass, David Grogan gave prophetic warnings real authority.—
Dallas News,
Dallas News,
23 Dec. 2022
Adjective
-
Ukraine does produce titanium, a mineral the Trump administration has shown additional interest in, but their production and reserves are negligible, according to the USGS.—
Energy Innovation: Policy and Technology,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
-
But such risks are negligible when the procedure is performed properly under the care of a qualified professional (typically an anesthesiologist, but orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, radiologists, and other specialists may perform epidurals as well).—
Stephen C. George,
Discover Magazine,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
For almost a quarter century, Randy Bennett has turned this tiny Catholic college from an also-ran to a perennial NCAA Tournament team.—
Brett Koremenos,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
-
If another clot develops, athletes might get surgery to remove the first rib and insert a tiny balloon in the blood vessel to open it up, Hofmann says.—
Lisa Rapaport,
EverydayHealth.com,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The professor said the groups committed crimes, but their offenses were relatively petty by today’s standards: brawling and shakedowns of non-gang members for their bikes or lunch money.—
Libor Jany,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2025
-
With the wave of a hand—or, to be more precise, the tapping of a few overnight posts on social media—American political horizons are being remade in ways that are petty and absurd.—
Penny Abeywardena,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nominal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nominal. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share