as in ancient
relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period
all life on Earth supposedly came from a primordial ooze in existence many millions of years ago
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Recent Examples of primordial
Both spring from some primordial, paradoxical desire to see oneself and to lose oneself — to be acknowledged by the vast universe as something singular with meaning and purpose, and also to merge with that vastness, to overflow the constraints of one tiny body, one narrow soul.
—
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 May 2026
As usual, human progress gets the sublimely absurd Herzogian treatment, with modern and primordial sights and sounds becoming whole.
—Eric Kohn, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
Gerber and company participate in such trips to observe nature in all its primordial rawness where one wrong step could end in death or dismemberment.
—Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2026
The heavy elements produced in the violent death of one first generation star swiftly polluted a primordial cloud of molecular hydrogen and helium that subsequently collapsed to form SDSS J0715-7334.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for primordial
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 May 2026
As usual, human progress gets the sublimely absurd Herzogian treatment, with modern and primordial sights and sounds becoming whole.
—Eric Kohn, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
Gerber and company participate in such trips to observe nature in all its primordial rawness where one wrong step could end in death or dismemberment.
—Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2026
The heavy elements produced in the violent death of one first generation star swiftly polluted a primordial cloud of molecular hydrogen and helium that subsequently collapsed to form SDSS J0715-7334.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for primordial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primordial
Adjective
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Clouds is the first luxury retreat for visitors to this national park—a more ancient and biodiverse ecosystem than the Virunga Mountains, inhabited by Rwanda and Congo’s gorilla population.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
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Images of the shelter slipped the Russian choke hold to appear on the world’s screens—intact and unbowed amid the rubble, like a temple time-transported from some more ancient siege, the faces of those within drained but resolute.—
James Verini,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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Analysts note Iran was able to penetrate US air defenses in the Persian Gulf with relatively primitive technology, including low-cost Shahed drones and lower-cost ballistic missiles.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
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Hannes’s roommate, Gundula (Marlene Burow), uses a primitive nineteen-seventies version of Tony’s 2020 technology to study and decode the behavior of her potted geranium.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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Mitsuye’s panic flipped into something more primal, more mom-like.—
Andre Mouchard,
Daily News,
9 May 2026
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There’s a physically primal element that feels new to Hathaway here, and not just in the film’s early convulsive silent dance sequence.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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This 50-square-mile crescent in the Pacific has the southernmost coral reef in the world and a wealth of wilderness walks that include everything from primeval banyan forests to endangered ground-dwelling birds.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Dec. 2025
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Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California Time slows to a primeval pace in the sequoia groves that make up Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, where arboreal giants have watched the seasons come and go for more than 2,000 years.—
Sarah L. Stewart,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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An unusual tooth found in a cave offers a rare glimpse into a surprising procedure prehistoric humans might have performed to fix a cavity 59,000 years ago.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
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In September 2023, UNESCO added Tell es-Sultan—a prehistoric site in Jericho—to its World Heritage List, drawing criticism from some far-right Israeli politicians and organizations.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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That makes this early matchup, coming off the bye, against the Chargers at Arrowhead so vital.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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The top of the order executed to perfection to give the Chargers the early lead Thursday.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Primordial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primordial. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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