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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of main
Evan Thies,
New York Daily News,
27 June 2026
The co-main event saw Shara Magomedov win by unanimous decision.
—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
Linda Girardi,
Chicago Tribune,
18 June 2026
In the beginning, there was bread The book’s centerpiece chapters on starters, mains and sweets are bookended on one side by a treatise on how to make and store breadcrumbs of various sizes, with an under-duress sub-section about how to buy breadcrumbs.
—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for main
Adjective
But those less main-stream views were largely not front-and-center.
—
Evan Thies,
New York Daily News,
27 June 2026
The co-main event saw Shara Magomedov win by unanimous decision.
—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
Noun
The village also approved an agreement which states the DuPage Water Commission will construct, own and maintain the transmission mains necessary to deliver water to Oswego, Yorkville and Montgomery.
—
Linda Girardi,
Chicago Tribune,
18 June 2026
In the beginning, there was bread The book’s centerpiece chapters on starters, mains and sweets are bookended on one side by a treatise on how to make and store breadcrumbs of various sizes, with an under-duress sub-section about how to buy breadcrumbs.
—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for main
Recent Examples of Synonyms for main
Adjective
-
Roughly two-thirds of American households own their primary residence, according to the Federal Survey of Consumer Finances from 2022, the most recent edition.
-
The capacity of the primary viewing area at the Washington Monument is set at about 150,000, according to Secret Service Special Agent in Charge David Yamen, who runs the agency's dignitary protective division.
Noun
-
How to prepare before strong winds approach Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.
-
He was raised in Tiberias and Eilat, outside Israel’s traditional centers of power and influence.
Noun
-
Heat danger is a problem being felt across Europe, which has the oldest population of any continent and is also the world's fastest-warming continent.
-
Total exports of portable air conditioners from China to Western Europe had already surged 70% in the first five months of 2026, before severe summer heat swept the AC-shy continent.
Noun
-
Reflective, multilayer shields will block the most heat, and ones with a thicker foam core will work much better than thin ones.
-
Sperm production works best at a temperature slightly cooler than core body temperature.
Adjective
-
The name of the predominant flavor must appear as part of the product name.
-
Matthew Harmon of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, representing law enforcement, the predominant users of ALPRs in the area.
Noun
-
Why barre keeps showing up on class schedules Barre is the low-impact entry in this lineup, blending ballet, pilates and yoga into high-repetition, small-range movements that tone muscles without battering the joints.
-
Advertisement Doperak and Lund say that pickle juice is best used to treat muscle cramps, rather than prevent them.
Noun
-
In Isla de la Juventud, south of mainland Cuba, Marlys Ruiz has built a platform around a different kind of visibility.
-
Most development in Hawaii falls within Special Management Areas, triggering archaeological and environmental review requirements that few mainland markets face.
Noun
-
Mourners beat their chests rhythmically in the intense summer heat, the wails of women cutting through the noise as the body of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was unveiled beneath a glass case at the Grand Mosalla.
-
But Vozinha dived, fully extended his body, and knocked the ball away.
Cite this Entry
“Main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/main. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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