preeminent

adjective

prē-ˈe-mə-nənt How to pronounce preeminent (audio)
Definition of preeminentnext
1
as in greatest
coming before all others in importance the preeminent reason for the booming economy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chief
highest in rank or authority the preeminent golfer of his generation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in outstanding
standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement a meeting of preeminent scientists from around the world

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 preeminent Legacy The Art of War remains one of China’s preeminent works of military theory and has developed an extensive tradition of textual study and commentary. — Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026 The Real McCoy sources its rum from Foursquare, a preeminent and well-regarded Barbados distillery. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 1 Sep. 2026 This reflects Paris’ difficulty adapting to the region’s new strategic realities, particularly Azerbaijan’s emergence as the preeminent regional actor and Turkey’s expanding role. — Kamran Bokhari, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 People flock from all corners of the country to see Mathew Varghese, a surgeon who has perhaps become the nation’s preeminent specialist for polio patients. — Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for preeminent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preeminent
  1. main
  2. chief
  3. outstanding
  4. primary
  5. foremost
  6. distinguished
  7. dominant
  8. commanding
Adjective
  • Homegrown chip design firm SkyeChip also enjoyed a blockbuster IPO on the Bursa Malaysia stock exchange in May, surging 300% on its main market debut.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • AbdulSalam Mohammed, president of the Abaad Studies & Research Center and an adviser to Yemen’s Information Ministry, told the Washington Examiner that government forces are currently focused on defending against the Houthis along three main axes.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of main
Adjective
  • The places with the biggest insurance gaps are those where heavy precipitation flooding occurs away from large water bodies, said Jeremy Porter, the chief economist at First Street.
    — MICHAEL PHILLIS, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Ford said prioritizing his employees and the communities his company impacts is chief among his values.
    — Connor Greene, Time, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of chief
Adjective
  • Conrad has done an outstanding job of pulling together a team of local workers at all levels of the business.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Livingston is now an outstanding player on Telfair County’s girls basketball team, which went 20-8 last season.
    — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of outstanding
Adjective
  • The war crimes that were brought to the fore on the stage by Macklemore’s speech are the ones that should be the primary focus.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Simmons made some phenomenal throws all over the field, including to his primary receiver, Cayden Lee.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of primary
Adjective
  • Founded in 1937, the Fashion Scholarship Fund is the fashion industry’s foremost education and workforce development nonprofit.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Making the roster more functional will be the foremost objective for whomever Crane chooses to replace Brown.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of foremost
Adjective
  • Abdel El Manira, a distinguished professor at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and a member of the Nobel committee, said at the prize announcement that optogenetics' impacts extend beyond our understanding of the healthy brain.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Among his distinguished awards are the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2012 and an Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2017 by the French Ministry of Culture.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of distinguished
Adjective
  • One is reminded of Toni Morrison, whose refusal to pander to the dominant gaze — whose insistence on writing about Black characters without regard for whoever else might be reading — unlocked its own kind of universality.
    — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • However, the iMac's M4 chip performed better in both single-core contests (representative of the most basic tasks) and Adobe Photoshop, where Macs have been dominant for years.
    — Michael Justin Allen Sexton, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of dominant
Adjective
  • Kirkwood had a commanding lead before Palou's spin caused a caution.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Adrián Marín set up the play with his pass to Tiago as Orlando took what seemed to be a commanding lead in the second half.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of commanding

Browse Nearby Words

preeminences
preeminent
preempt
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Cite this Entry

“Preeminent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preeminent. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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