as in main
coming before all others in importance
the cardinal rule of medicine: do no harm
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Recent Examples of cardinal
Sort your laundry — but not by color The once cardinal rule of separating darks from whites before washing them has flown the coop.
—
The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
To secure such an outcome means breaking his cardinal rule.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
The Mutable Fire Sign Every sign is assigned a quality (cardinal, mutable, or fixed), which explains the sign's basic energy.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026
While training at the FBI Academy at Quantico, I was required to learn and follow the cardinal safety rules, which include (1) treating all firearms as loaded, (2) keeping firearms pointed in a safe direction and (3) keeping one’s finger off the trigger until one is ready to press it.
—Luke William Hunt, The Conversation, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cardinal
The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
To secure such an outcome means breaking his cardinal rule.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
The Mutable Fire Sign Every sign is assigned a quality (cardinal, mutable, or fixed), which explains the sign's basic energy.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026
While training at the FBI Academy at Quantico, I was required to learn and follow the cardinal safety rules, which include (1) treating all firearms as loaded, (2) keeping firearms pointed in a safe direction and (3) keeping one’s finger off the trigger until one is ready to press it.
—Luke William Hunt, The Conversation, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cardinal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cardinal
Adjective
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The rooms There are a dozen entry-level rooms in the curvy main building, and several outrageously large residences and villas right on the beach.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
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For the tribe, its main objective is to repatriate the remains of their ancestors — a process that often involves gathering the remains and artifacts and burying them together in a spot on the site that cannot be disturbed.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Even the more politically active class of nonprofits — 501(c)(4) groups, like the relatively new American Hunters and Anglers — can’t make political activity its primary activity.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
3 Apr. 2026
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Last year, six people ran for Sacramento mayor and no one got more than 30% of the vote during the primary election.—
James Taylor,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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First, the predominant previous assessment of many pundits that Gulf states’ collective large investments in defense were prestige driven — as opposed to a necessity — has fallen flat on its face.—
Faisal J. Abbas,
semafor.com,
27 Mar. 2026
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But on the Facebook Just in Time Broadway fan group, which has 7,700 members and seems to be the locus of Groffie fandom, the predominant tone is warm, almost giddy.—
Alexandra Starr,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But the Celtics still entered halftime with a big 80-57 advantage in large part because of its dominant first period.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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While not a quality start, Cameron continued a string of dominant pitching performances from the starting rotation.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Its seminary is the foremost clerical institution in the world, training students from Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan in a wide range of topics, including Shiite jurisprudence, Quranic interpretation and Arabic literature.—
Mary Thurlkill,
The Conversation,
30 Mar. 2026
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The meeting has been positioned as a critical opportunity for both sides to reset the relationship between the world’s two foremost economic and military powers.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Dovlation is proud of what’s been accomplished during his 10-year tenture at the school, five as principal, following another five as vice principal.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
4 Apr. 2026
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Mimi Meacham is the founder and principal designer of Marian Louise Design, based in Houston.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The National Park Service long believed the 2,990-acre island was big enough to support 130 horses, but that has changed.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
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What is expected to be the biggest gathering of possible Democratic 2028 presidential hopefuls is set to happen at the convention for the National Action Network, an organization dedicated to fighting for civil rights and equality.—
Hannah Demissie,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Ben Saraf, making his first start since March 25, added eight early points, and the Nets closed the quarter on a 10-0 run to take a 30-29 lead into the second.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
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The Dilworth-South End border along the railroad back in 1988 was not the safest place; Thai Taste was robbed in its first six months of operations, and someone even came into the dining room and stole a customer’s purse during service.—
Timothy DePeugh,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cardinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cardinal. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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