1
as in main
coming before all others in importance
the primal theme of the essay is toleration of religious diversity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ancient
relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period
there was a period of primal idealism after the founding of the republic and before the rise of partisan politics
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of primal
So what’s unleashed is just this primal anger and frustration.
—
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 May 2025
The film celebrates artists who challenge the status quo and give voice to those on the fringes of society, all accompanied by a soundtrack that mixes traditional Japanese music with the thudding drums, wailing guitar, and primal screams of modern rock.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 7 May 2025
In this whole revelation that’s happened to him, some unexpected, primal thing is released.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 7 May 2025
Survival: Headline When a playoff series reaches Game 6, the matchup becomes primal.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for primal
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 May 2025
The film celebrates artists who challenge the status quo and give voice to those on the fringes of society, all accompanied by a soundtrack that mixes traditional Japanese music with the thudding drums, wailing guitar, and primal screams of modern rock.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 7 May 2025
In this whole revelation that’s happened to him, some unexpected, primal thing is released.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 7 May 2025
Survival: Headline When a playoff series reaches Game 6, the matchup becomes primal.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for primal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primal
Adjective
-
This addition sees another key member of the iconic D-Generation X (DX) faction contributing behind the scenes, joining Triple H, who heads main roster creative, Shawn Michaels, who is in charge of NXT creative, and Road Dogg, currently working as a co-lead writer for WWE SmackDown.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 May 2025
-
Two main issues are conveyed: No credible debt management approach exists.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
Adjective
-
Scientists have discovered a huge spike in radiocarbon levels 14,300 years ago by analyzing ancient tree-rings.—
David Bressan,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
-
It’s all designed to try to persuade visitors that the biblical story was literally true — that an ancient Noah really could have built such a sophisticated ship.—
Peter Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2025
Adjective
-
Houde said these mammoth animals are a primitive group of proboscideans ('elephantoids') from which modern elephants evolved.—
Joseph J. Kolb,
Fox News,
18 July 2017
-
Many are primitive and remote, and don’t have restrooms or water.—
OregonLive.com,
OregonLive.com,
12 July 2017
Adjective
-
David Hogg, a Democratic National Committee vice chairman, has elevated his national profile but risked his standing in the DNC for promising to primary older incumbents in Congress.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
24 May 2025
-
There are two primary types of retail pharmacies: chain pharmacies, which are operated by larger companies, and independent pharmacies, which are often locally owned.—
Lucas Dufalla,
Arkansas Online,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
But in this primeval stage, nearly all of the potential Democratic candidates are discussing problems that have bedeviled their party for years: how to win back working-class voters, how aggressively to oppose President Trump and how to reach voters beyond the traditional news media.—
Lisa Lerer,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
-
Our own moon shows evidence of primeval tidal heating, too.—
Robin George Andrews,
Quanta Magazine,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
So the cosmic dark ages aren’t entirely dark; those clouds of primordial neutral hydrogen are emitting tremendous amounts of 21-cm radiation.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
16 Apr. 2025
-
George Harrison may be thought of as a holy man, but the primordial ooze his career emerges from is made of cars.—
Kaleb Horton,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Mercantilism had been the predominant economic model of the prior two centuries, advocating for trade surpluses with all nations.—
Sarah Keohane Williamson,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
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Fedde was using a steady four-pitch mix, with his sinker being the predominant pitch.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
Adjective
-
The existence of any prehistoric apex predators in the islands of the Caribbean used to be doubted.—
Ashley Belanger – May 16,
ArsTechnica,
16 May 2025
-
The original show gave the prehistoric reptiles the nature documentary treatment, offering glimpses of a world that was ruled by dinosaurs millions of years ago through the magic of CGI and animatronics.—
Maira Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Primal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primal. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
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