Synonyms of main

main 1 of 2

adjective

as in primary

coming before all others in importance

this is the main point of the study—everything else is secondary

Synonyms & Similar Words

• primary
• greatest
• predominant
• highest
• dominant
• foremost
• big
• first
• key
• principal
• central
• leading
• chief
• supreme
• overriding
• paramount
• cardinal
• great
• major
• prior
• premier
• top
• primal
• master
• sovereign
• capital
• number one
• overbearing
• grand
• important
• distinguished
• outstanding
• preeminent
• notable
• arch
• noteworthy
• overmastering
• senior
• eminent
• prestigious
• numero uno
• illustrious
• signal
• high-level
• stellar
• superior
• influential
• star
• significant
• famous
• noble
• momentous
• mighty
• incomparable
• famed
• unparalleled
• renowned
• celebrated
• unequaled
• unsurpassed
• matchless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• last
• least
• minor
• secondary
• slight
• unimportant
• trivial
• insignificant
• negligible
• subordinate
• inferior
• collateral
• inconsequential
• inconsiderable
• trifling
• subsidiary

main

2 of 2

noun

ˈmān 

1

as in power

muscular strength

all their might and main could not budge the stalled car

Synonyms & Similar Words

• power
• muscle
• beef
• thew
• energy
• force
• might
• brawn
• vigor
• potency
• sinew
• puissance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weakness
• impotence
• impotency
• frailty
• feebleness
• debility
• infirmity
• debilitation
• faintness
• enfeeblement
• frailness

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

• continent
• mainland
• landmass
• subcontinent
• supercontinent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• island
• key
• islet
• isle
• atoll
• coral reef
• peninsula
• cape
• barrier reef
• promontory
• headland
• cay

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

• core
• body
• bulk
• weight
• majority
• chief
• staple
• essence
• whole
• bottom
• mass
• entirety
• middle
• center
• burden
• root
• nature
• heart
• focus
• substance
• brunt
• sum
• generality
• subject
• amount
• matter
• total
• heft
• meat
• kernel
• theme
• topic
• nucleus
• hub
• soul
• quantum
• aggregate
• totality
• marrow
• text
• stuff
• seat
• argument
• point
• sum total
• motif
• crux
• gist
• pitch
• essentiality
• pith
• affair
• nut
• quintessence
• nub
• purport

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extension
• component
• part
• element
• section
• ingredient
• constituent
• side
• segment
• adjunct
• accessory
• appendage
• division
• offshoot
• piece
• feature
• aspect
• quality
• angle
• facet

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of main

Adjective

Yanbu, Saudi Arabia’s main Red Sea oil port, has become a key route for Saudi oil skirting the Strait of Hormuz, ​which Iran has blockaded. — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 26 July 2026

Co-author Justin Ross, professor of public finance and economics at Indiana University’s main campus in Bloomington, did the study alongside Saurav Roychoudhury, professor of finance and economics at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026

Noun

From start to finish, this main comes together in just 35 minutes. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 July 2026

Charging the power station through mains power was a breeze, even for a novice power station nerd like me. — Mike McRae 04, New Atlas, 5 July 2026

Phrases Containing main

• coup de main
• with might and main