cardinal

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cardinal different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of cardinal are essential, fundamental, and vital. While all these words mean "so important as to be indispensable," cardinal suggests something on which an outcome turns or depends.

a cardinal rule in buying a home

Where would essential be a reasonable alternative to cardinal?

The meanings of essential and cardinal largely overlap; however, essential implies belonging to the very nature of a thing and therefore being incapable of removal without destroying the thing itself or its character.

conflict is essential in drama

When could fundamental be used to replace cardinal?

The words fundamental and cardinal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fundamental applies to something that is a foundation without which an entire system or complex whole would collapse.

fundamental principles of algebra

When is vital a more appropriate choice than cardinal?

While in some cases nearly identical to cardinal, vital suggests something that is necessary to a thing's continued existence or operation.

cut off from vital supplies

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 cardinal The cardinal rule of relativity is that there’s a speed limit to the Universe, the speed of light, that nothing can break. Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 14 Aug. 2025 Never Share Sensitive Workplace Data With AI Tools The cardinal rule is simple. Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025 It is heavily guarded because the cardinal rule of the place is that there is no violence. Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2025 King arrived at the event in a pair of Manolo Blahnik‘s Corintia 90mm pumps in a bright cardinal red hue, which were a flattering contrast to the cobalt blue carpet. Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for cardinal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cardinal
Adjective
  • Transfer fee add-ons, or ‘contingent consideration’, to use accountancy lingo, can be accounted for in different ways, with three main practices used in the industry.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Frontier Drive is also envisioned as the project’s main street and will be lined with shops and restaurants.
    Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The primary role of liaisons is to remove any barriers for students that would prevent them from accessing their education, said Valerie Gyroy, the academic advisor for families with housing insecurity with the Chandler Unified School District.
    Erick Trevino, AZCentral.com, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Our silky sateen Violet Gem Sheet Set brings just the right amount of moodiness to your primary or guest bedroom.
    Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Essentially, Demna’s touch is so predominant in this first drop, not only in the styling, attitudes but also with the different personas depicted in each picture.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2025
  • This state of matter is predominant in the universe.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The five-time first-team All-NBA megastar reinvented himself physically at the start of the summer before looking like the most dominant player in all of Europe this summer.
    Dan Woike, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Taiwan has begun evolving its trade strategy to start wielding its dominant position as a leading supplier of cutting-edge chips as a weapon, Bloomberg reported.
    Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • On August 31, the International Association of Genocide Scholars—the foremost academic body in the field—voted to affirm that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
    Faisal Kutty, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
  • One of the foremost images of American exceptionalism is that of the strong frontier woman taming the elements alongside her husband while also keeping the hearth burning and the bellies full.
    Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Former Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner was officially let go from the team on Monday, marking his official exit after being relieved of his team principal duties back in July.
    Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
  • On Friday, the Commerce Department will release its August reading on personal income and spending, as well as the personal consumption expenditures price indexes that the Federal Reserve uses at is principal inflation gauge.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Affleck’s younger sibling, Fin, formerly known as Seraphina, publicly used the memorial service of Garner’s father to share their new name and identity for the first time in April 2024.
    Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2025
  • The $15 billion, first phase of CP2 just began construction near to Calcasieu Pass and is slated to start producing LNG in 2027.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published.
    T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Shares in China’s Zijin Gold International surged more than 60% on its debut in Hong Kong on Tuesday after raising more than $3 billion in one of the world’s biggest initial public offerings this year.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cardinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cardinal. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

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