1
as in greatest
coming before all others in importance
the preeminent reason for the booming economy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chief
highest in rank or authority
the preeminent golfer of his generation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in outstanding
standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement
a meeting of preeminent scientists from around the world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preeminent
Georg Baselitz, a preeminent painter of postwar Germany and an engine of the 1980s Neo-Expressionist movement that rebuked Minimalism, and who would later come under fire for his comments about women artists, has died at 88.
—
Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
To many, Seamus Heaney is the preeminent Anglophone poet of the latter half of the twentieth century.
—Nick Laird, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
One of China’s preeminent engineering influencers is at it again.
—Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 15 Apr. 2026
For a guy who played 55 games at one of the preeminent football schools in the country, Delp might be a little bit under the public radar.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preeminent
Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
To many, Seamus Heaney is the preeminent Anglophone poet of the latter half of the twentieth century.
—Nick Laird, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
One of China’s preeminent engineering influencers is at it again.
—Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 15 Apr. 2026
For a guy who played 55 games at one of the preeminent football schools in the country, Delp might be a little bit under the public radar.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preeminent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preeminent
Adjective
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Kerry Haigh, the chief championships director at the PGA responsible for creating the test, made full use of the severely undulated greens at Aronimink that contributed to the bunched leaderboard, and required control of every shot from tee-to-green.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
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The judge also found that the public interest strongly favors transparency, particularly, the court noted, when the chief election official is himself a candidate in the election being administered.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Adjective
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But Jeffries, an outstanding student who typically went straight home from baseball practice to study, remained more of a spectator than a participant in the borough’s burgeoning hip-hop scene.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen were outstanding, and Sam Merrill hit huge corner 3s in the first half to break Detroit’s spirit early.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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This bag has an enormous main compartment that can hold bulky clothing items, a laptop compartment that keeps electronics tidy and folds down flat for easy packing, and multiple front-access pockets packed with slots of all shapes and sizes.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
24 May 2026
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This live service push has been nothing short of a disaster with its main bright spot being a game not even made by a Sony studio.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
Adjective
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Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.—
William Phillips,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
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Activities As a union, the NUJ’s foremost duty is to its members.—
Idir Ouahes,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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As a result, Istanbul Vita is recognized by many patients as a distinguished hair transplant clinic in Turkey, and the clinic received the Best Hair Transplant Clinic in Europe (2023) award.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
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How Presidential Taxes Normally Work While the President holds a distinguished position in office, the IRS treats him the same as any other taxpayer.—
Nathan Goldman,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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Xi’s expected to be a commanding presence as host, opposite a US president known more for relying on gut instinct than meticulous preparation.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
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Senior midfielder Meghan O’Donnell, who scored her eighth goal of the season during Libertyville’s 3-2 win over Waubonsie Valley on Thursday, said Chung is a commanding presence.—
Bobby Narang,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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The topic of filmmaking between industry and vision’ and the current tensions between creation, industry and authorship will be further expanded at ECAM Forum’s The State of Things conference strand organized by the industry arm of Madrid’s prestigious ECAM film school.—
Annika Pham,
Variety,
22 May 2026
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Awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences together with the Crafoord Foundation, the prize is one of the world’s most prestigious scientific honors outside the Nobel Prize system.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
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Daniella Segura Click the link below for the USA TODAY Network's California June primary voter guide — registration deadline, ballot drop boxes, early voting, and how to track your ballot through Election Day.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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Meanwhile, about a kilometre away, workers began clearing debris from the old site of the primary-care center, making room for a permanent replacement.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preeminent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preeminent. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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