SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
categorical
adjective
Absolute and without qualification or exception.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Without qualification
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topEmphatic concerns force of expression; categorical excludes reservations or exceptions.
RELATED FORMS, ONE FEATURED ENTRY
The categorical family
These forms are closely related, but their grammar and use are not identical. Expand a form to compare its meaning and examples.
categoricallyadverb
In an absolute and unqualified manner.
Without qualification
Closest synonyms
Related expressions
The owner categorically rejected the suggestion of closing the shop.
The building owner categorically denies having authorized anyone to paint over the mural, leaving no qualification or exception in the statement.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See categorical in use
The committee issued a categorical denial of the rumor.
A temporary assistant gave a categorical refusal to accept any alternative container, declaring that no exception was possible.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license