PRIME Synonyms: 315 Similar and Opposite Words

prime 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of prime

as in chief

highest in rank or authority the prime strategist in the senator's presidential campaign

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in excellent

of the very best kind owns a thousand acres of prime farmland

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

prime

2 of 3

noun

ˈprīm

as in bloom

a state or time of great activity, thriving, or achievement in the prime of her life

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in best

individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class chose the prime of the litter of pups

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

prime

3 of 3

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 prime

Adjective

The police find Ray Biller, who was attending his brother’s Wayne funeral, and arrest him as the prime suspect in Riley’s death. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026 Vitali Klitschko, the former heavyweight boxing champion who now serves as mayor of Kyiv, is also seen as a prime contender. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026

Noun

Music can slow cortisol, sync your nervous system and prime you mentally for high stakes. — Roy Ward, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026 The fight itself became a contest of grit between two legends—both past their prime but unbroken in will. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026

Verb

Once people are primed to see isolated criminal acts as collective proof, punitive policy can begin to sound like common sense rather than ideology. — Donathan L. Brown, The Conversation, 24 June 2026 Activation requires the techniques of reminding, priming, and reinforcing. — Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for prime

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prime

Adjective

An area attorney and former chief public defender who was arrested earlier this year on multiple felony drug charges after a raid on his residence was arrested again early Monday on drug and gun charges following a traffic stop.

— Steven Mross, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
The festival’s advisory group includes director Dan Löwenstein, founder of House of Create, vertical drama critic and consultant Jen Cooper of Vertical Drama Love, and Christine Hartland, co-founder and chief operating officer of My Smash Media.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of chief

Adjective

Her shoes are already a favorite among industry insiders for their sleek appeal and excellent construction.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
In late September, the concept was thrust back into the public consciousness thanks to a Variety interview with actor Jack Innanen, who plays the Canadian himbo Paul Baker on the excellent sitcom Adults.

— Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of excellent

Noun

Choose shrubs for autumn color, berries, or blooms that fit your growing zone.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2026
Waters are becoming cloudier overall, while harmful algal blooms — measured through chlorophyll a levels — are trending in the wrong direction, the report found.

— Adam Thompson, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of bloom

Verb

Getting observational data from Thwaites’ grounding line is the next step, Rignot said.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Of course, the West itself is a nebulous concept, one that was wholly absent from the ancient Greek and Roman luminaries who ground its canon.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of ground

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

Cite this Entry

Style

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

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Synonyms of prime

adjective

noun

verb

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