primal
adjective
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Definition of primal
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Synonyms & Antonyms for primal
Synonyms
arch, big, capital, cardinal, central, chief, dominant, first, foremost, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, main, master, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, premier, primary, principal, prior, sovereign (also sovran), supreme
Antonyms
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Examples of primal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When Alan stops the engine and turned off the lights, plunging us into total darkness, the fear is absolutely primal. — Virginia Van Zanten, Vogue, "Why Botswana Should Top Your Travel List in 2019," 27 Dec. 2018 The cave-like dining alcoves in the subterranean dining room encourage diners to get in touch with their most primal urges. — Matthew Kronsberg, WSJ, "The Secret to This Dish's Deep Flavor," 18 Oct. 2018 But here, your swing is something much more primal. — Leah Prinzivalli, SELF, "Axe Throwing: the Hot New Happy Hour Alternative and Low-Key Workout," 20 July 2018 Something felt unbalanced, as if a stealth assault had been made on the limbic system, the lacy cortical network that forms the architecture of our primal needs and emotions: pleasure, anger, fear. — Guy Trebay, Condé Nast Traveler, "In the Heart of Navajo Lands," 19 Oct. 2018 On a more primal level, the warmth and light generated by the sun—or tanning beds—contribute to the nasty habit’s allure. — Dana Wood, WSJ, "6 Actually Convincing Ways to Fake a Tan," 15 May 2018 Lost in the mists of history, the New York Times seems to have believed as recently as 2007 that the pith helmet could be part of a compelling fashion ensemble: This season, the call of the wild sounds more like a primal scream. — James Freeman, WSJ, "Columbus, Churchill and Melania," 8 Oct. 2018 The primal part of my brain started to scream that this was a good time to start panicking. — Chris Peterman, Ars Technica, "Risky Thailand cave rescue relied on talent, luck—and on sticking to the rules," 22 July 2018 The insult’s second level is more primal and purely physical: Aunt Lydia is a dowdy, dour, and unadorned woman. — Rhonda Garelick, The Cut, "It’s Okay to Be Offended by Michelle Wolf’s Jokes," 30 Apr. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'primal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for primal
primal
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of primal
: very basic and powerful
See the full definition for primal in the English Language Learners Dictionary
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