serial 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsir-ē-əl How to pronounce serial (audio)
Definition of serialnext
as in serialized
appearing in parts or numbers that follow regularly "Uncle Tom's Cabin" first appeared as a serial novel from 1851 to 1852

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serial

2 of 2

noun

as in periodical
a publication that appears at regular intervals the university library has a vast collection of serials

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 serial
Adjective
Abrosimov said resuming serial production would strengthen Russia’s technological independence and support the long-term development of its Long-Range Aviation fleet and the airborne component of the country’s nuclear triad. — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026 More news The recent release of a serial rapist is garnering outrage in the San Gabriel Valley community where the man, who is an heir to a cosmetics fortune, is reportedly residing. — Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Noun
The result of that compromise is a thing that has the structure of a film serial but the pacing of a feature. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026 In the early 1960s, he was cast in the single-season CBS daytime soap Our Five Daughters — which debuted a year after the sitcom My Three Sons — beginning a string of roles in serials for Cypher. — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for serial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for serial
  1. serialized
  2. periodical
  3. newspaper
  4. journal
  5. book
  6. magazine
Adjective
  • Harry Potter alum Rupert Grint is getting in on the podcast game with a new serialized audiobook of Treasure Island.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
  • In particular, serialized dramas about women are undersupplied.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of serialized
Noun
  • Declonius Peck, its beloved editor-in-chief, has gone to prison for embezzlement, and his evil twin, Salton, has assumed management of the family business, along with the 39 editors who curate the periodical.
    — Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • When word spread that the Chief Librarian of the Army was paying a visit, soldiers rushed to request their favorite periodicals and book genres.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of periodical
Noun
  • All but one mainstream newspaper have criticized the revisions, and media surveys show a large majority of the public support female monarchs or maternal-line succession.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Some Ukrainian officials told the newspaper that the system had not been restored to full functionality but was working at higher speeds than under the cap.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of newspaper
Noun
  • In-store events also offer shoppers the chance to gather and make something by hand—from personalized ornaments to holiday junk journals.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The three research articles, which were published today in the AHA’s journal Circulation, outline how all these shifts connect and increase heart disease risk.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of journal
Noun
  • In her latest book, Harvard historian Jill Lepore argues that Big Tech now controls the United States—and, by extension, the entire planet.
    — Nina Verdelli, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026
  • My books include The Underground Guide to Color Printers (Addison-Wesley), Troubleshooting Your PC (Microsoft Press), and Faster, Smarter Digital Photography (Microsoft Press).
    — M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of book
Noun
  • Local and national campaign staff have feuded over how to showcase Jackson from the early days of the campaign, infighting detailed in an August New York magazine story.
    — Julia Terruso, Time, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The prestigious Ballon d’Or is handed out annually by French magazine France Football to the best men’s and women’s soccer players.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of magazine

Browse Nearby Words

sergeants
serial
serialize
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Cite this Entry

“Serial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serial. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on serial

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about serial

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