1
as in ceremonial
following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules
a formal meeting of the board of directors a formal contract that was legally binding
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in titular
being something in name or form only
was the formal head of the charitable organization though he never attended a single meeting
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3
as in ceremonious
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details
gave her a formal invitation to dinner
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4
as in dress
relating to or suitable for wearing to an event requiring elegant dress and manners
the dress code is formal for tonight's event a shop that rents out formal wear
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5
as in eloquent
very dignified in form, tone, or style
the formal language of the coronation ceremony
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of formal
Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
But the late pontiff also did not hold many formal meetings with the College of Cardinals, something which cardinals said a future pope should change during meetings held before the last conclave.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 18 June 2024
At the time of his disappearance, Strain and his fellow Delta Chi fraternity members traveled to Tennessee for the group’s annual formal.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 17 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for formal
Adjective
But this week, the unwelcome house guest, dubbed Yellow 2120 by researchers, finally got his formal eviction notice.
—Noun
Strain went missing after being asked to leave Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink in downtown Nashville while on a trip to the city with the other members of the Delta Chi Fraternity for a spring formal.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for formal
Adjective
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The Aboriginal Dingaal people had been using the island as a sacred ceremonial site for about 6,000 years.—
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Pittsburgh Penguins original owner Jack McGregor drops a ceremonial puck between Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ryan Getzlaf #15 of the Anaheim Ducks at PPG Paints Arena on October 15, 2016 in Pittsburgh.—
Adjective
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Though he was widely known for portraying Count Dracula in the 1931 titular film, Lugosi portrayed the Creature in 1943's Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man.—
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Pacino stars as the enigmatic titular figure, described as part muse, part ghost of cinema past.—
Adjective
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More convincing in the film is cinematographer Talant Akynbekov’s observant, almost ceremonious lensing of carpet weaving, as well as of the beats of everyday life, sometimes accompanied by the traditional tunes villagers hum.—
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The band’s official end was even less ceremonious.—
Adjective
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Gosling has a way of retreating into a silence more emotionally eloquent than the film’s occasionally clunky dialogue.—
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Off-screen, the eloquent preteen has been charming moviegoers at film festivals and Q&As over the past few months.—
Noun
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From low-rise jeans and velvet tracksuits to straightened hair and group shots at school sports games, prom, and campus hangouts, the photos show a life that mirrors teen comedies from the era likely featuring Amanda Bynes, Lindsay Lohan or Hilary Duff.—
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In addition to attending prom together, the couple have made appearances at select red carpet events together, including the season 4 premiere of Stranger Things in 2022.—
Adjective
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That sentiment, while proclaimed in jest, captures a current appetite among many celebrities and fans alike to break away from conventional interviews in favor of more authentic and flavorful content.—
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Reports claimed that the KSOT is designed to provide a fast, efficient and effective solution to strengthen the Indonesia’s maritime combat capabilities, while complementing its existing fleet of conventional submarines.—
Adjective
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Austin Public trains those producers, who, for a nominal fee, gain access to state-of-the-art equipment, studio space and content distribution for their own work.—
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Academic users will be able to access the platform for a nominal fee, while biotech and pharmaceutical companies are charged an annual subscription, which gives them the right to store their data securely, as well as a relatively low per-use charge.—
Adjective
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Resar said the issue is technique and having a dedicated coach who specializes in tight ends and can teach him proper footwork and hand placement.—
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After not hosting an official ceremony in 2022, the Golden Globes returned to proper form in 2023, with stars showing off jaw-dropping looks on the red carpet.—
Cite this Entry
“Formal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formal. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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