central 1 of 2

Definition of centralnext
1
2
as in middle
occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes will hold the conference in the central part of the country in order to encourage delegates from both coasts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3

central

2 of 2

noun

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 central
Adjective
Alcohol is central to American life because of its social and cultural benefits to the many people who drink without issue. Lev Facher, STAT, 12 May 2026 Some top administration health figures had publicly questioned the credibility of the agencies that are now central to explaining a new and uncertain threat. Lena H. Sun, Washington Post, 12 May 2026
Noun
The in-flight refueling test itself is a critical capability central to the bomber’s role as a long-range strike platform capable of operating worldwide. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Apr. 2026 Humrichous played three seasons of NAIA ball at Huntington University in north-central Indiana before transferring to Division I Evansville and later to Illinois. Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for central
Recent Examples of Synonyms for central
Adjective
  • Plenty of helpful signs are posted throughout, and main paths traverse the park.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
  • This intersection between kitchens and spirits spills over from main courses into desserts too.
    Carinne Geil Botta, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Adjective
  • The other two — Miguel Vargas’ three-run home run in the first and Colson Montgomery’s solo shot in the third — were pitches that were mostly middle-middle.
    Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2026
  • These guerrilla pop-ups launched the heartland quartet – singer Tyson Ritter, lead guitarist Nick Wheeler, rhythm guitarist Mike Kennerty and drummer Chris Gaylor – into a world of TikToks and Instagram posts, simultaneously cultivating a fan base decades younger than the now-middle-aged rockers.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 16 May 2026
Adjective
  • In the study, about a third of patients experienced moderate to severe side effects like rash and diarrhea, though none discontinued the trial as a result.
    Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 12 May 2026
  • Other possible challengers, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, both seen as favorites of the party's moderate left, face obstacles to running.
    Elizabeth Piper, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • But Patrick Mahomes, who tore his ACL last December, is ahead of schedule and will likely be under center when these two teams square off in early November.
    Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 15 May 2026
  • The tension spilled into election issues, including accusations that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized ballots in a voter‑fraud investigation, now at the center of a legal fight with the state attorney general.
    James Ward, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Adjective
  • Daniella Segura Click the link below for the USA TODAY Network's California June primary voter guide — registration deadline, ballot drop boxes, early voting, and how to track your ballot through Election Day.
    James Ward, USA Today, 15 May 2026
  • Meanwhile, about a kilometre away, workers began clearing debris from the old site of the primary-care center, making room for a permanent replacement.
    Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 15 May 2026
Adjective
  • The most famous is the 16th-century Rialto Bridge, which sits roughly at the halfway point and is considered a remarkable architectural and engineering achievement of the Renaissance period.
    Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The fifth and final season of Prime Video’s superhero satire series, The Boys, is nearing the halfway point this week.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Bedside lanterns, traditional tea pots above the minibar, and authentic decorative pottery fill the room.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026
  • But Hadler does not believe that fibromyalgia should be classified as a disease in the traditional biomedical sense, because medicine has yet to identify a discrete, demonstrable pathophysiological process underlying it.
    Jason Liebowitz, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • At the same time, Anthropic argued that the US still holds several major advantages, including stronger chip ecosystems, leading AI companies, and broader access to capital for large-scale AI infrastructure.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
  • Legislation in Louisiana seeks to address the Supreme Court ruling by scrapping a district that snakes over 200 miles (321 kilometers) northwest from the capital, Baton Rouge, to Shreveport, creating a voting bloc with a majority of Black residents.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Central.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/central. Accessed 18 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on central

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster