principal 1 of 2

noun

ˈprin(t)-s(ə-)pəl How to pronounce principal (audio)
Definition of principalnext
as in star
the person who has the most important role in a play, movie, or TV show my cousin is one of the principals in a new sitcom this fall

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

principal

2 of 2

adjective

ˈprin(t)-s(ə-)pəl How to pronounce principal (audio)
1
as in main
coming before all others in importance our principal reason for coming here today

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chief
highest in rank or authority the principal researcher in the company's chemical division

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 principal
Noun
It will perhaps be watched most closely, however, by the principals at Hugo Boss. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026 Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School principal Paola Rodriguez was placed on administrative leave for undisclosed reasons, with executive director Rian Townsend stepping in as acting principal. — Star-Telegram Staff. Produced With Ai Assistance, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 2026
Adjective
Florence Pugh leads the cast of the series as Cathy Ames, the matriarch of the Trask family and a Devil figure in the novel who serves as its principal antagonist. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2026 Related Stories The documentary, from Sharma’s outfit Temple, was shot across Sydney, Melbourne, Colombo and New York, and features interviews with Kamer and Najwa Nizamdeen, along with principal lawyer Moustafa Kheir of Birchgrove Legal. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for principal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principal
  1. star
  2. main
  3. chief
  4. primary
  5. foremost
  6. predominant
  7. commanding
  8. dominant
Noun
  • Brad Pitt sent a message to George Clooney as the Michael Clayton star was honored Wednesday at the Venice International Film Festival.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Marchese spent the past 12 years as a senior executive at Studio71, another creator media firm that handled distribution and advertising sales representation for a range of digital-native stars.
    — William Earl, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of star
Adjective
  • The fourth-year pro with blazing speed had an impressive training camp and appeared to be one of the team’s main kick returners.
    — Josh Kendall, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Its main instrument, known as the Wide Field Instrument (WFI), will take extremely wide images of the universe, capturing ultra-high definition views across broad swaths of the sky.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of main
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
Adjective
  • In 2025, Kelley told PEOPLE exclusively that his wife was his primary motivation for pursuing sobriety.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Fields and Mooney, who should take Austin’s place as the primary slot receiver, will be the other starters.
    — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of primary
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
  • So the Fed's predominant focus right now should be on prices.
    — Scott Horsley, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Environmental samples collected from the market, specifically in areas where wildlife sales were predominant, contained SARS-CoV-2 genetic material.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of predominant
Adjective
  • Kirkwood had a commanding lead before Palou's spin caused a caution.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Adrián Marín set up the play with his pass to Tiago as Orlando took what seemed to be a commanding lead in the second half.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of commanding
Adjective
  • His once-dominant bat has gone quiet, leading to significant fan frustration, including boos at home games despite his excellent defense.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • At the time, Americans sipped one dominant style of beer, a light lager, sold by big breweries such as Coors and Anheuser-Busch.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of dominant

Browse Nearby Words

princesses
principal
principalities
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Cite this Entry

“Principal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principal. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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