Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

Thesaurus

main

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of main

coming before all others in importance
  • This is the main point of the study—everything else is secondary.
Synonyms of main

arch, big, capital, cardinal, central, chief, dominant, first, foremost, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, master, overbearing, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, premier, primal, primary, principal, prior, sovereign (also sovran), supreme
Words Related to main

distinguished, eminent, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, prestigious, signal, star, stellar, superior

high-level, senior, top

important, influential, major, mighty, momentous, significant

incomparable, matchless, unequaled (or unequalled), unparalleled, unsurpassed

celebrated, famed, famous, renowned
Near Antonyms of main

inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant

collateral, inferior, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary
Antonyms of main

last, least

main

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of main

1 muscular strength
  • All their might and main could not budge the stalled car.
Synonyms of main

beef, brawn, muscle
Words Related to main

force, might, potency, power, puissance, sinew

energy, vigor
Near Antonyms of main

impotence, impotency, weakness

debilitation, debility, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, frailness, frailty, infirmity
2 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 of main

continent, landmass, mainland
Words Related to main

subcontinent, supercontinent
Near Antonyms of main

island, isle, islet

atoll, barrier reef, cay, coral reef, key

cape, headland, peninsula, promontory
3 the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts
  • The main of the tree is still healthy.
Synonyms of main

body, brunt, bulk, chief, core, generality, mass, staple, weight
Words Related to main

majority

aggregate, amount, entirety, quantum, sum, sum total, total, totality, whole

bottom, essence, essentiality, marrow, meat, nature, pith, quintessence, root, soul, stuff, substance

center, heart, hub, kernel, middle, nucleus, nut, seat

affair, argument, burden, crux, focus, gist, nub, pitch, point, purport

matter, motif, subject, text, theme, topic
Near Antonyms of main

accessory (also accessary), adjunct, appendage, extension, offshoot

component, constituent, element, ingredient

division, part, piece, section, segment

angle, aspect, facet, feature, quality, side

Learn More about main

  1. See words that rhyme with main Dictionary: Definition of main Spanish Central: Translation of main Nglish: Translation of main for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of main for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up main? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games