primal

adjective

pri·​mal ˈprī-məl 

1

: original, primitive

… village life continued in its primal innocence.

—Van Wyck Brooks

2

: first in importance : primary

Synonyms of primal

• main
• greatest
• primary
• highest
• predominant
• dominant
• foremost
• big
• first
• central

Examples of primal in a Sentence

the primal theme of the essay is toleration of religious diversity

there was a period of primal idealism after the founding of the republic and before the rise of partisan politics

Recent Examples on the Web

But there is a primal scream stuck in our collective throat. —Phil Morris The Minnesota Star Tribune, Arkansas Online, 10 Jan. 2026

Nambiar directs from a script by Abhishek Bandekar that speaks to contemporary youth culture, merging the world of digital content creation with primal survival stakes. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026

The vast, indifferent Moroccan desert acts as a major character, stripping the human characters bare and forcing a primal confrontation with mortality, loss, and the unconstrained forces of nature. —Robert Lang, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026

The lawsuit includes beef (fresh or frozen) made from chuck, loin, rib or round primal cuts, according to the lawsuit's website. —Saleen Martin, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably from prime entry 1 + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing primal

• primal scream therapy

Rhymes for primal

• thymol
• ependymal
• mesenchymal
• lachrymal
• lacrimal

Kids Definition

primal

adjective

pri·​mal ˈprī-məl 

1

: of or relating to the first period or state : primitive

2

: first in importance : basic