cardinal

adjective

Definition of cardinalnext
as in main
coming before all others in importance the cardinal rule of medicine: do no harm

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word cardinal different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of cardinal are essential, fundamental, and vital. While all these words mean "so important as to be indispensable," cardinal suggests something on which an outcome turns or depends.

a cardinal rule in buying a home

Where would essential be a reasonable alternative to cardinal?

The meanings of essential and cardinal largely overlap; however, essential implies belonging to the very nature of a thing and therefore being incapable of removal without destroying the thing itself or its character.

conflict is essential in drama

When could fundamental be used to replace cardinal?

The words fundamental and cardinal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fundamental applies to something that is a foundation without which an entire system or complex whole would collapse.

fundamental principles of algebra

When is vital a more appropriate choice than cardinal?

While in some cases nearly identical to cardinal, vital suggests something that is necessary to a thing's continued existence or operation.

cut off from vital supplies

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 cardinal Then the musical group collated the various streets, roads, places, drives, boulevards and cardinal directions into 53 seconds of gold. — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Each academic school hosts their own ceremony, with students attending various departments — plus deans and senior leadership — all clad in their cardinal and gold regalia, marching behind their banners across the campus. — Staff Report, Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026 Breaking my cardinal rule for noir, Ellroy tries to get by on plot alone. — Carolyn Kellogg, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026 Around that time, the Count-Duke is believed to have commissioned the artist to paint both him and Italian cardinal Francesco Barberini—a nephew of Pope Urban VIII— to commemorate the latter’s diplomatic mission to the Spanish court. — Theo Belci, Artforum, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cardinal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cardinal
  1. main
  2. primary
  3. predominant
  4. dominant
  5. foremost
  6. principal
  7. big
  8. first
Adjective
  • Spray bottle on bottom shelf of main prep table lacking label information.
    — NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Through the program, this year’s Rising Stars will connect with industry leaders and take part in the festival’s main activities, from panel discussions and media engagements to the red carpet.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of main
Adjective
  • The primary danger of these apps is not the fees associated with using just one, Feltner noted.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The bill was introduced over a year ago, and its primary backer was the late Lindsey Graham, a veteran Republican senator who represented South Carolina.
    — Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of primary
Adjective
  • The defense team plans to employ Othram to conduct a Y-STR test, a method that isolates DNA from the Y chromosome to generate a profile of a male contributor in samples where female DNA is predominant.
    — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • There are two predominant rumors about how a wild herd ended up in the Inland Empire, Spasojevic said.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of predominant
Adjective
  • The result is one of the most quietly dominant competitive positions in modern industry.
    — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Georgia looked dominant in the opening minutes, even after Stockton had to leave after hitting the field helmet-first on the first play of the game.
    — Charles Odum, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of dominant
Adjective
  • One man who always has a lot to say is Josh Pate, the college football commentator who started from humble beginnings and is now one of the foremost voices in the sport.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • If aesthetics is the foremost priority, Lulu and Georgia offers office furniture that would look more at home in an interior design studio than a corporate high-rise.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of foremost
Adjective
  • He is seen as the PM’s principal rival, and could replace him.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The Oniks and Kalibr missile families are among the principal weapons associated with Russia’s Yasen and Yasen-M-class submarines.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of principal
Adjective
  • At the end of September, leaders of several of the biggest AI companies went to the White House and signed an accord committing to internal risk controls, independent audits and board-level oversight of safety.
    — Giorgos Tsetis, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Go rebound the basketball, go protect the rim, be a big big for us.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of big
Adjective
  • Ukraine received no warning from its partners ahead of the first wave of attacks, and information about a second wave arrived too late for air raid sirens to be activated in time, air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said on national television.
    — SAMYA KULLAB, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The model became the first real hit in the emerging athletic shoe industry.
    — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of first

Phrases Containing cardinal

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carded
cardinal
cardinal virtue
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Cite this Entry

“Cardinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cardinal. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cardinal

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cardinal

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