nominal 1 of 2

adjective

ˈnä-mə-nᵊl How to pronounce nominal (audio)
Definition of nominalnext
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

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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

nominal

2 of 2

noun

as in substantive

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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
Adjective
Wareheim does take nominal breaks — to scout fresh inventory on trips around the world. — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026 The new car has double the power of the current racer, with a nominal 603 hp (450 kW) from a twin-motor, all-wheel drive powertrain that goes up to 804 hp (600 kW) in Attack Mode. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026 Slow money growth means weak nominal growth and low inflation, which in turn keeps interest rates and bond yields depressed—and the yen weak. — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026 At his initial court appearance, prosecutors successfully asked that Storer remain held without bail, while his attorney’s request for nominal bail was denied, court minutes reviewed by Fox News Digital show. — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nominal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nominal
  1. titular
  2. slight
  3. substantive
  4. negligible
  5. tiny
  6. petty
Adjective
  • The actual titular story of this premiere is more of a wacky subplot.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The adventures of Addison’s titular shilling include being hoarded, offered as a bribe, and sent as an insulting accompaniment to a letter disinheriting a son.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of titular
Adjective
  • The delicate shape still nods to classic ballet flats, but the slight heel gives everything a little more polish, making the pairing feel less Sunday lunch with your nan and more Copenhagen Fashion Week.
    — Georgia Brown, Glamour, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Early pothole testing actually caused a slight structural bend in a rear swingarm.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of slight
Noun
  • With his substantive, agreeably granular bass, David Grogan gave prophetic warnings real authority.
    — Dallas News, Dallas News, 23 Dec. 2022
  • California’s climate agenda mixes the symbolic with the substantive.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2022
Definition of substantive
Adjective
  • Traditional album sales accounted for 3,000 units, while a negligible amount of activity derived from track-equivalent sales.
    — Pamela Bustios, Billboard, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Following oxidation, sulfur was no longer detectable in the bulk elemental analysis and nitrogen had fallen to a negligible trace.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of negligible
Adjective
  • The Moon’s awkward angle to Venus this morning may bring tiny mismatches around timing, mood, or social plans, but nothing needs to become a big deal.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Aug. 2026
  • One such collection of it-narratives survives in the form of the tiny manuscript books authored by children associated with the prominent New England Hale family.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of tiny
Adjective
  • Trump will depart sooner or later, the banners will be torn down and much of his petty talk will be and should be forgotten.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The players air their grievances, which are essentially a pile of petty conflicts and resentments that, as Alice warned, can be traced back to the team fracturing into cliques.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of petty

Browse Nearby Words

nomenclatures
nominal
nominally
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Cite this Entry

“Nominal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nominal. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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