1
as in main
coming before all others in importance
the central theme of the book
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in moderate
avoiding major social change or extreme political ideas
with all of the attention being paid to the party's right and left wings, the vast central core has been largely ignored
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in center
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest
a health club that has become dating central for singles in the area
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025
Qatar was central to Israel-Hamas talks, and helped end the brief conflict between Iran, Israel, and the US earlier this year.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Austin Hornbostel, The Tennessean, 30 Aug. 2025
The hurricane center is also tracking two other disturbances, one in the north-central Atlantic and one just off Louisiana’s coast.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for central
Adjective
The story starts in Oxford, a small town in southwest Connecticut, not far from New Haven, with Pelaez home from his freshman year of studying electrical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in central Massachusetts.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025
Qatar was central to Israel-Hamas talks, and helped end the brief conflict between Iran, Israel, and the US earlier this year.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
Generally, the district is located in north-central Tennessee along the state’s border with Kentucky.
—Austin Hornbostel, The Tennessean, 30 Aug. 2025
The hurricane center is also tracking two other disturbances, one in the north-central Atlantic and one just off Louisiana’s coast.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for central
Recent Examples of Synonyms for central
Adjective
-
Howl at hootenanny Ozark Natural Science Center presents the annual Bear Hollow Hootenanny fundraiser Saturday and Sunday at the center's main campus north of Huntsville adjacent to the Madison County Wildlife Management Area.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Oct. 2025
-
D’Angelo wrote, arranged, and performed almost the entire album album by himself, with some additional contributions coming from Saadiq, Q-Tip, and his main collaborator, A Tribe Called Quest’s go-to engineer Bob Power.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Throughout those seasons, Benedict was the aloof middle brother, too busy drinking too much and partaking in gender-indiscriminate dalliances to want to settle down.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
Refinery29,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The position also activates your core and upper body, improving the function of your thoracic spine (the middle section connecting to your ribs).—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The randomized clinical trial enrolled 114 patients with moderate-to-mild knee osteoarthritis who were each assigned a very low dose of radiation, a low dose or a placebo.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Researchers’ work highlights the promising potential of GS to enhance building-level resilience and sustainability, especially in tall buildings with moderate to low EUI.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Freshman Eva Karacalidis starred in her debut at center-mid, helping the Porkers apply a wealth of offensive pressure in an 11-shot first half.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
17 Oct. 2025
-
From 2021 to March 2025, the Turgeau emergency center treated more than 100,000 patients.—
NPR,
NPR,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
And while Sturm offers a small group of men’s options (the Face Cream Men doubles as an after-shave soother), some of her male clientele seem content to buy the primary unisex line.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Essential menopause services belong in national primary health packages and in public and private insurance coverage.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Based on author Julia Quinn’s romance series of the same name, the fourth season marks the halfway point of the series overall as each season focuses on the eight Bridgerton siblings’ pursuit of love.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The journey begins with mild goosebumps but will take a grisly turn at the halfway point, warns Liu.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Actors were brought in to pretend to be North Korean soldiers and wellwishers, and a choir of local schoolchildren sang traditional songs.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Qiuhao Qiuhao quietly opened fashion week with a strong collection mining the idea of utilitarian aspects of Chinese traditional garments in the 1930s, which were subtly influenced by the Art Deco movement.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
More than 60% of the capital's health facilities, including Haiti's general hospital, are now shuttered or non-functioning because of the surge in gang violence.—
NPR,
NPR,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The aide ordered his family to pack their bags and go to the defense ministry in the capital’s central Umayyad Square.—
Danny Makki,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Central.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/central. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share