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

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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 company is also discussing other applications with defense prime contractors and government program offices. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026 This is a prime example of how the director used touches of levity to make even the film’s more workmanlike segments entertaining. — ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026

Noun

Thompson, 36, is no longer in his prime but still an effective player. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026 Earth’s first Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, played by Kyle Chandler, also drew criticism for being portrayed as an older, messier iteration of the most famous intergalactic peacekeeper rather than the more idealized version in his prime. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026

Verb

Our favorite finds include a silky pull-on pant, an easy T-shirt dress primed for travel days, and more with final discounts of up to 63 percent. — Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026 When push comes to shove, however, there can be multiple factors that can prime a film’s remake potential. — John Hopewell, Variety, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for prime

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prime

Adjective

These bags come from Maria Grazia Chiuri’s fall 2026 collection, her first as Fendi’s chief creative officer—and something of a homecoming for the Roman designer.

— Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
Former senior vice president of people and culture Erin Dangerfield, now Golden State’s chief people officer, allegedly questioned Vasquez about her responses in the survey.

— Devon Henderson, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of chief

Noun

Lavender Lavender is a popular garden perennial for its pleasantly calming fragrance and profuse purple blooms.

— Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026
The marsh was built in the 1990s to naturally clean dry-weather urban runoff from San Diego Creek and address the algae blooms that once existed in Upper Newport Bay, according to the water district’s website.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of bloom

Noun

Benton had career bests in tackles (51), tackles for loss (6) and sacks (5 1/2) while helping the Steelers to the AFC North title.

— CBS News, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2026
With the three-row Kia Sorento, the Hyundai Palisade retains the South Korean brands’ 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, both segment and industry bests.

— James Raia, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of best

Verb

There is a tragic air to watching a character who is otherwise so grounded become entangled in the elaborate nightmare of a fake college quarterback who is really a disgraced adult football player wearing a prosthetic face.

— Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
Catcher Ryan Jeffers, who earlier doubled in the team’s first run, grounded out to end the inning.

— Dan Hayes, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of ground

Adjective

On the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, AI’s foremost critic is flouting the dress code.

— Jack Holmes, Vanity Fair, 1 Sep. 2026
The Move to Manchester The TV Festival’s impending move to Manchester was one of the foremost topics of conversation at this year’s edition.

— K.J. Yossman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of foremost

Adjective

But there may be little anyone–government or corporate–can do to persuade people to have children amid greater economic uncertainty.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
From travel dresses to a lightweight sweater, here are 14 items from Quince’s Workwear Edit that would look great on you on your next flight, starting at $20.

— Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of great

Noun

Cutting back is done in mid-summer when foliage looks ragged and blooming slows to increase plant vigor, control height, and encourage a second flush of blooms.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 19 Aug. 2026
Once blooms fade, seeds eventually begin to form, the plant becomes leggy, and blooming slows.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 16 July 2026

Definition of blooming

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“Prime.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prime. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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