1
as in preludes
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event
the round of hors d'oeuvres was merely the preamble to an evening of lavish feasting
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in prefaces
a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part
an insightful analysis of the preamble to the Constitution of the United States
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preambles
The rest were preambles or dead ends.
—
Dan Turello, New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2026
Unless needed for clarity, avoid long preambles.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Dan Turello, New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2026
Unless needed for clarity, avoid long preambles.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preambles
Noun
-
This rosé is all about coastal herbs, grapefruit pith, white peach and sea spray, Landa prefaces.—
Jillian Dara,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The hockey playoffs weren’t affected by the storm and are expected to start on March 2 with Division II preliminaries.—
Jacob Rousseau,
The Providence Journal,
26 Feb. 2026
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Switzerland crushed Germany in the men’s curling preliminaries, keeping a consistent lead before ending the game with a score of 8-4.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Hall of Fame forward and all-time franchise leader in nearly every major statistical category walked into the arena with Timberwolves co-owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez after player introductions, receiving a roar from the crowd and patting his heart with his hand.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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The anniversary screenings will include a sneak peek at the upcoming prequel series Elle, along with exclusive introductions from both Witherspoon and Lexi Minetree, who takes on the role of a younger Elle.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preambles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preambles. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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