marshal 1 of 2

verb

variants also marshall
Definition of marshalnext
1
as in to organize
to assemble and make ready for action marshaled their forces for battle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to accompany
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front marshaling a small group of children on a tour of the science museum

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to arrange
to put into a particular arrangement marshal your arguments before you stand up to speak

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

marshal

2 of 2

noun

variants also marshall
as in sheriff

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb marshal contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of marshal are arrange, methodize, order, organize, and systematize. While all these words mean "to put persons or things into their proper places in relation to each other," marshal suggests gathering and arranging in preparation for a particular operation or effective use.

marshaling the facts for argument

When is it sensible to use arrange instead of marshal?

The synonyms arrange and marshal are sometimes interchangeable, but arrange implies a setting in sequence, relationship, or adjustment.

arranged the files numerically

When would methodize be a good substitute for marshal?

Although the words methodize and marshal have much in common, methodize suggests imposing an orderly procedure rather than a fixed scheme.

methodizes every aspect of daily living

When is order a more appropriate choice than marshal?

In some situations, the words order and marshal are roughly equivalent. However, order suggests a straightening out so as to eliminate confusion.

ordered her business affairs

When can organize be used instead of marshal?

While in some cases nearly identical to marshal, organize implies arranging so that the whole aggregate works as a unit with each element having a proper function.

organized the volunteers into teams

When could systematize be used to replace marshal?

The meanings of systematize and marshal largely overlap; however, systematize implies arranging according to a predetermined scheme.

systematized billing procedures

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 marshal
Verb
The fire apparently started outside the home, but the fire marshal is still investigating the cause. —Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025 The fire marshal’s office looks at burn patterns, evidentiary samples and examines equipment and appliances, even light switches. —Gracie Stockton, Twin Cities, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
Cunha has been well marshalled by the Arsenal defence. —Jack Lang, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025 In the end, even Gladys sees that her mother was right, and perhaps the audience does, too, but talk about the lack of power in that era and how women marshaled that? —Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for marshal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for marshal
  1. organize
  2. accompany
  3. arrange
  4. sheriff
  5. mobilize
  6. lead
  7. dispose
  8. inspector
Verb
  • To qualify for a portion of the county arts funding, organizations must be active 501(c)3 entities, located and operating in Milwaukee County, organized for the primary purpose of producing or presenting the arts, and open to the general public, according to the county's application terms.
    — Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The Best States to Work Index analyzes 27 policies across three categories — wages, worker protections and rights to organize — for all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
    — Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of organize
Verb
  • The First 70 Years contains impeccable research and analysis, accompanied by fascinating photos of the sets, film crews, and casts.
    — Michael Taube, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Analyst Gil Luria accompanied the move by raising his price target to $210 per share from $195.
    — Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of accompany
Verb
  • North was convicted in 1989 on three felony charges for helping to arrange the illicit sale of weapons to Iran and divert the proceeds to fund a secret war against anti-communist Contra rebels in Nicaragua.
    — Josh Meyer, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Wegovy injection pens arranged in Waterbury, Vermont, US, on Monday, April 28, 2025.
    — Karen Gilchrist,Katrina Bishop, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of arrange
Noun
  • The sheriff's office said the suspect was armed with a revolver handgun.
    — Alex Stone, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The sheriff is in the news again because of Soliman.
    — Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of sheriff
Verb
  • What seems like dozens of fire trucks, air tankers and helicopters are mobilized, but strong winds allow for minimal progress.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Once Animal Rescue Corps is alerted to a case, often through local law enforcement, the organization mobilizes quickly, driving anywhere in the US.
    — Meg Dunn, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Definition of mobilize
Verb
  • Kirsten Obstacles and my first realisations about society's stereotypical attitudes toward motherhood, being a mother, and being an artist and mother quickly led me to take action.
    — Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Cox said there was no information leading authorities to believe there was a second person involved.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of lead
Verb
  • The findings underscore the need to rethink how society uses and disposes of disposable masks.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
  • This can help protect your privacy, especially when disposing of or reselling an old computer.
    — StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of dispose
Noun
  • The inspector noted two containers of chicken held at an unsafe temperature, a dirty ice machine and fried shrimp not labeled with the preparation and discard date.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2025
  • As for the roaches, the inspector counted eight dead and nine among the living.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Definition of inspector

Browse Nearby Words

marsh
marshal
marshaled
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Marshal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/marshal. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on marshal

Nglish: Translation of marshal for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about marshal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

A Guide to Using Semicolons

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 3

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'
See More

Popular

See More

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 3

Our Best Historical Slang Terms
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
high school student holding a pencil leaning over a sat test
Challenging Standardized Test Words 20 questions to help you score 1600
See All