as in dominance
the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance
the primacy of calcium for building strong bones
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 primacy
But the case never made it to trial because of judicial delays spurred in part by the court’s reluctance to challenge the primacy of religious charities in child welfare.
—
Kristen Martin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
Pilgrims’ primacy The Pilgrims were latecomers to the Thanksgiving table.
—Thomas Tweed, The Conversation, 13 Nov. 2025
Like the larger Sureños gang, their members generally recognize the primacy of the Mexican Mafia prison gang, and use the color blue and the number 13 as symbols.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Scholar Mary Jane Edwards is one who asserts the book’s primacy.
—JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for primacy
Kristen Martin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
Pilgrims’ primacy The Pilgrims were latecomers to the Thanksgiving table.
—Thomas Tweed, The Conversation, 13 Nov. 2025
Like the larger Sureños gang, their members generally recognize the primacy of the Mexican Mafia prison gang, and use the color blue and the number 13 as symbols.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Scholar Mary Jane Edwards is one who asserts the book’s primacy.
—JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for primacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primacy
Noun
-
On others, the BBC remains comfortably ahead of YouTube, but for the broadcaster to be supplanted on even a single metric is notable, given its decades-long dominance in Britain.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Behavioral psychology calls this coercive control, maintaining dominance through unpredictability, dependency, and psychological pressure rather than overt force.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Conversely, Taiwan’s adoption of drone technologies and counter-measures reflects a broader global trend in modern warfare where autonomy, numbers, and networked systems can offset traditional military superiority.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Despite Barca’s recent dominance and established superiority in terms of history, fanbase and budget, the rivalry between the clubs is fierce.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Still, Self noted there’s a distinction between practice and actual games in how Peterson feels.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The distinction of a judicial warrant is key because ICE agents could instead have an administrative warrant.—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Clemson, at 5-0, hosts the 4-0 Hurricanes in what is surprisingly a crucial battle for ACC supremacy.—
Jim Root,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
-
This capacity to translate democratic and constitutional aspirations matters not because legislative majorities are always right, but because certain national challenges cannot be deferred or ignored indefinitely, and because judicial supremacy cannot substitute for self-governance.—
Duncan Hosie,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Worth Avenue and its surrounding streets have enjoyed an ongoing retail evolution over the years, with new and often bigger boutiques adding to Palm Beach’s reputation as a designer enclave.—
Laurie Brookins,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Exploration in the western Mediterranean, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula (modern Spain and Portugal), Sardinia and Etruria (central Italy), led to the Phoenician exploitation of rich natural resource deposits and an increasing reputation for great wealth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Primacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primacy. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
