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
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Recent Examples of main
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
Currently, schools receive about $15,000 annually per student through the state’s main funding mechanism, the Local Control Funding Formula, with an additional $7,000 coming from the federal government, block grants, lottery money, special education funds and other sources.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Dec. 2025
From savory starters, like party-ready dips and one-bite delights, to crowd-friendly mains, like pot roasts and extra-special pasta dishes, these New Year’s recipes are primed to send out the old and usher in the new.
—Kelly Vaughan, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for main
Adjective
Virgin River‘s Season 7 returning main cast Includes Breckenridge, Henderson, Tim Matheson, Annette O’Toole, Colin Lawrence, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Allen, Sarah Dugdale, Grazzini, Kai Bradbury and Kandyse McClure.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
Currently, schools receive about $15,000 annually per student through the state’s main funding mechanism, the Local Control Funding Formula, with an additional $7,000 coming from the federal government, block grants, lottery money, special education funds and other sources.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
This industrial-chic bistro from James Beard Award semifinalist chef Dallas McGarity is known for its New American small plates, mains and imaginative craft cocktails.
—Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Dec. 2025
From savory starters, like party-ready dips and one-bite delights, to crowd-friendly mains, like pot roasts and extra-special pasta dishes, these New Year’s recipes are primed to send out the old and usher in the new.
—Kelly Vaughan, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for main
Recent Examples of Synonyms for main
Adjective
-
This discount shall apply only to the primary residence of the user and shall not apply to separate irrigation meters.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Last season’s Most Improved Player was the primary defender on Dončić, who was held to 22 points on 7-of-17 shooting from the field in 27 minutes.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The experience also reinforced Madsen’s belief in the power of social media.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Mophie's power bank has the functionality of a wireless MagSafe connection, with the convenience of a stand.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
At the northeast corner of the Sahara Desert, its vast wilderness marks the final leg on the African continent for those fleeing war, persecution, and lack of opportunity in search of a better life.—
Mick Krever,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Astrotourism continues to be one of the world's leading trends, and many travelers make big plans to cross oceans and continents just to experience auroras, meteor showers, and some of the darkest night skies in the world.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Visa and MasterCard have responded to growing scrutiny with minor, cosmetic adjustments, but the core problem remains unchanged.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Instead, creators will take on the role of consultants, as brands develop more substantial partnerships with the talent that now make up such a core part of their marketing strategies.—
Madeleine Schulz,
Vogue,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Rarely, salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The outcome measures were muscle size, measured with ultrasound, and muscle strength, measured as one-rep max for leg press and barbell biceps curl.—
Outside,
Outside,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Britain ultimately lost not only because of Washington’s extraordinary tenacity in the war’s several mainland theaters, but also because the king’s men had to stage long sieges, wage desperate naval battles, and take mounting casualties on too many other fronts spread too far apart.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Hsieh was born in Taiwan in 1950, a year after the Kuomintang, until recently China’s ruling party, fled Mao Zedong and the mainland, and set up shop in Taipei.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Stokes, who seldom completes a five-Test series these days, had dragged his creaking, aching body through almost five full matches of hard, hot, energy-sapping cricket, like scraping butter over too much bread, but somehow soldiering on.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The hardware is built for intimacy, pairing a soft exterior with full-body sensors that react to a user’s touch on its head or neck.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Crime and safety, particularly in Downtown, were the predominant issues in the race, especially after a string of high-profile incidents this summer and fall.—
Jordan Kellogg,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Despite the concerns around African democracy, Afrobarometer’s annual African Insights survey shows voting in elections remains the predominant form of political and civic engagement, with nearly three-quarters of respondents voting in their country’s elections last year.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/main. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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