as in primary
coming before all others in importance
this is the main point of the study—everything else is secondary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in power
muscular strength
all their might and main could not budge the stalled car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in continent
one of the great divisions of land on the globe or the main part of such a division
islanders periodically traveled back to the main for supplies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in core
the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts
the main of the tree is still healthy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of main
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2026
But Saturday’s main goal is to honor Pretti and the other victims murdered by federal agents.
—La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 31 Jan. 2026
R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
With a menu that spans pizzas, deli salads, sandwiches and a smattering of mains and sides, even the weariest palate will find something to eat.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for main
Adjective
Skip to main content As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2026
But Saturday’s main goal is to honor Pretti and the other victims murdered by federal agents.
—La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
The city’s 36-inch southeast transmission main carries about 55% of the drinking water that leaves Aurora’s treatment plant, according to Director of Public Works Jason Bauer.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
With a menu that spans pizzas, deli salads, sandwiches and a smattering of mains and sides, even the weariest palate will find something to eat.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for main
Recent Examples of Synonyms for main
Adjective
-
For many people who stream music every day, how artists and rightsholders are paid is not a primary concern.—
Shain Shapiro,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
But under California’s top-two primary system, the two candidates with the most votes advance to the November general election regardless of party affiliation.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The power of the crop; or, when bad taste comes all the way back around to being good taste.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Nebraska law says that while in active service of the state, or at the direction of the governor, National Guard members are peace officers with power to prevent crime, arrest suspects, and execute the process of law.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Over seven months, the quartet performed 81 shows across three continents to more than 2 million attendees, cementing their status as the highest-grossing touring act among female K-pop groups.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Martin Farquhar Tupper, a poet and an antiquarian favored by Queen Victoria, argued that Rapa Nui was the remnant of a lost continent whose people had perished.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Mobile units have core tasks of license plate collection and vehicle pattern tracking.—
Asra Q. Nomani , Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The birth of Endeavor startled Hollywood, but Endeavor’s subsequent takeover of powerhouse William Morris shook the town to its core.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There are muscles behind your skin and face, and my mother did it her whole life.—
E. Alex Jung,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
-
With osteomalacia and rickets, a person may experience throbbing bone discomfort and muscle weakness and pain.—
Mark Stibich,
Verywell Health,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Huang visited mainland China at least three times last year, including in January for Lunar New Year celebrations.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
23 Jan. 2026
-
So Andrew landed a new gig on the mainland at Western Michigan, currently ranked 18th, losses to Tulane and Notre Dame.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Together, the three systems enable continuous, adaptive whole-body autonomy — allowing humanoid robots to walk, carry, reach, and recover in real time.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
-
It’s designed to be biocompatible—not harmful to living tissue—though, and to stay in the body for as long as a decade and be reversible at any time with a sodium bicarbonate injection.—
Ana Castelain,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
By the next day, anger and fear felt like the predominant emotional states.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Centuries ago, exhalations of humans and animals, in addition to that derived from natural processes such as decay and forest fires, may have been predominant.—
Beronda L. Montgomery,
PEOPLE,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/main. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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