paramount 1 of 2

paramount

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word paramount different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of paramount are dominant, predominant, and preponderant. While all these words mean "superior to all others in influence or importance," paramount implies supremacy in importance, rank, or jurisdiction.

unemployment was the paramount issue in the campaign

When is dominant a more appropriate choice than paramount?

The meanings of dominant and paramount largely overlap; however, dominant applies to something that is uppermost because ruling or controlling.

a dominant social class

Where would predominant be a reasonable alternative to paramount?

While in some cases nearly identical to paramount, predominant applies to something that exerts, often temporarily, the most marked influence.

a predominant emotion

When might preponderant be a better fit than paramount?

The synonyms preponderant and paramount are sometimes interchangeable, but preponderant applies to an element or factor that outweighs all others in influence or effect.

preponderant evidence in her favor

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of paramount
Noun
For Israel, eliminating, rather than merely restricting, the production of fissile material that could be used to fuel a weapon has been paramount. Ali Vaez, Time, 14 June 2025 Among its biggest findings is that concerns around mental health and worries about paying for things like housing and health care remain paramount for the group. Elena Moore, NPR, 13 June 2025 Many can be bypassed with a swipe or a second phone, limiting their effectiveness when liability and safety are paramount. IEEE Spectrum, 11 June 2025 An attorney who supports keeping transgender athletes out of girls sports said the rights of female athletes are paramount in this situation. Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for paramount
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paramount
Adjective
  • One voter in Greenwich Village told ABC News that concerns about antisemitism were a main driver for his decision to vote for Cuomo.
    Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 24 June 2025
  • The three main changes House Republicans want to make are to ensure immigrants who are in the United States without legal authorization can’t enroll; create work requirements to be on the program; and prevent federal funding from being used for gender transition care.
    Danielle Battaglia, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Frette bathrobes, pillow menus, spacious dressing rooms, walk-in wardrobes, free-standing bathtubs and Hermès amenities promise the utmost comfort.
    Natasha Amar, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • According to Aniston, focusing on crafting a better work-life balance for herself is of the utmost importance.
    Nicholas Rice, People.com, 22 June 2025
Adjective
  • For once, most of his targets have returned from last season, including Kelce and a collection of receivers — Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster — that should be the Chiefs’ deepest since Tyreek Hill was on the roster.
    Zak Keefer, New York Times, 20 June 2025
  • There are significant limitations to such equipment production in the U.S., Glas explained, and the advanced machinery is essential to most modern operations.
    Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • His personal goal was surely the vanity of wanting to have never been wrong and the superpower of always being right—George Orwell speaks of the theological nature of totalitarians, who must constantly alter the past to claim to be always right in the present.
    Rebecca Solnit April 29, Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2021
  • Ridicule only appeals to cool kids on coasts and the college towns and totalitarians.
    Letters to the Editor, Orange County Register, 17 Oct. 2020
Noun
  • Why don’t all the rich potentates, sheiks, oligarchs and MAGA dictators meet and fix it?
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025
  • With the pandemic, the year-round population of a once-seasonal resort town swelled with Manhattan refugees, those in the Trump orbit, and tech and finance potentates, many of them serious collectors like Ken Griffin and Steve Ross.
    Ben Widdicombe, Vulture, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • One of the Jet Propulsion Lab’s foremost scientists says the futuristic outpost is still hoping against hope that the president’s plan for NASA will be overturned by Congress.
    Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • Giard grew up to become both a voracious reader (with a B.A. in English and American literature from Yale and an M.A. in comparative literature from Boston University) and a foremost chronicler of writers.
    Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • Yet in the ultimate game, that star went down with a franchise-altering injury.
    Tony East, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
  • But with so many questions remaining about Iran's remaining nuclear capacities, Israel's plans, and both countries' ultimate intentions, Trump may have to make more hard choices to make about deploying and projecting U.S. military power abroad.
    Benjamin Siegel, ABC News, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • Despite lawsuits in America giving his overlords more than a bit of a headache, Tanz has watched on quietly as multiple Love is Blind versions have landed with a bang in their respective countries.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 30 May 2025
  • Congress needs to pass laws; the tech overlords just need to push code to screw things up.
    Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Paramount.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paramount. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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